South Carolina Ceases Credit for AP African American Studies Course
The Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies course will no longer be provided in Berkeley and Charleston counties in South Carolina for the upcoming 2024-25 academic year. Following the conclusion of a two-year pilot program, school districts have elected not to continue awarding AP credit for this course. This decision has stirred debate among educators and scholars alike, sparking a broader conversation about the place of African American Studies in AP curriculum.
A Unique Educational Experience Withdrawn
AP African American Studies was developed with the aim to expose students to the depth and breadth of the Black experience, covering various aspects from historical achievements to cultural impact. Daron Calhoun, a member of the Charleston County School District Board of Trustees and Historian, expresses concern over the halt of this course and questions the reasoning behind it. Calhoun advocates for the importance of offering diverse educational experiences at the AP level and suggests that this decision might be obstructive to that end.
Technicality Causes Disruption
This decision came to light when districts received notification from the South Carolina Department of Education, stating that the course code for AP African American Studies would not be available beyond the 2023 to 2024 academic year. Without the standardized course code, both school districts assert they are unable to offer the course for AP credit. However, both districts have highlighted that a local board-approved African American Studies elective will continue to be offered for the 2024-25 school year. Students wishing to study African American history at an advanced level can avail academic credit through dual enrollment opportunities, including a Dual Enrollment African American History course (HIS 115) and others.
State and National Implications
Although South Carolina’s Department of Education roster will lose an AP course, the College Board has confirmed that AP African American Studies will be fully operational in the 2024-25 academic year on a nationwide level. This discrepancy brings forth a question of whether regional or state-level decisions should have the power to diverge from national education curriculums.
Moving Forward
Calhoun continues to encourage dialogue around this decision and is advocating for continued study of African American history through other educational avenues. As one of nine board members for the Charleston County School District, Calhoun is pushing for more comprehensive African American studies at a local level, asserting that the local desire for such a course is not to be undermined.
In conclusion, while South Carolina’s decision to cease providing AP credit for African American Studies has generated controversy and raised questions about the direction of education policy in the region, there is an ongoing opportunity for dialogue and reform, as districts continue to grapple with how to best accommodate a diverse and comprehensive curriculum.
