MACON, Ga. — Advanced Placement African American studies courses may not be available anymore to high schoolers in Georgia.
And if they are available, schools may have to use local or private funds to pay for the course expenses. Retired Mercer University professor Chester Fontenot is an African American studies advocate.
"You can use state money to pay for European history and culture studies but not African American culture studies,” he said. “So, the whole question is, 'Why?'"
State Superintendent Richard Woods said Georgia school districts should develop their own curriculum based on local priorities.
“There has been an African American Studies course code in the catalog of state-funded courses since 2020,” Woods wrote in a statement to 13WMAZ. “Districts using this course code will receive state funding ... When I reviewed the AP course, I had concerns about the state endorsing the totality of the course.”
But Fontenot said without this course, students will have to learn this history outside the school system somehow.
"What I hope happens in the future is that we will not have education being determined by politicians," Fontenot said.
Instead, he wants education to be determined by educators.
"Education is supposed to prepare young people to be holistic human beings without prejudices, without biases,” he said. “And to gain a kind of empathy, not just sympathy, but empathy, for people who are not like them."
13WMAZ reached out to several Central Georgia school districts about the advanced placement course. Some -- like Bibb and Dublin schools – said the state decision doesn't affect them since they don't offer the course.
The Georgia State Board of Education Chairman Stan DeJarnett issued a statement in agreement with the decision.
“The State Board of Education is aware of the conversation around the AP African-American Studies Course,” DeJarnett wrote. “This Board supports the autonomy of local school districts and their communities in determining curriculum for their students ... Given that the AP African-American Studies can be taught locally if the local board of education approves it, and earn appropriate state funding, there is no need for the State Board of Education to take up this matter. No one is preventing any school system in Georgia from offering this course if they choose to do so.”