S.C. to no longer allow credit for AP African American studies course

S.C. to no longer allow credit for AP African American studies course

CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — AP African American studies won’t be offered in Berkeley and Charleston counties in the 2024-25 school year. The decision comes after the school districts wrapped up a two-year pilot program for the AP course. As the AP African American studies course ends for the coming school year in Berkeley County and Charleston County several questions arise about what’s next. “Why single out AP African American Studies?” asked Daron Calhoun, a Charleston County School District Board of Trustee Member and Historian. “Do you not understand it? Is there another agenda going along with it? We have to understand the root of the issue. Why do we need to look at a free African American Studies and say we’re not gonna get that code.”

AP African American studies course to be dropped in Berkeley and Charleston counties

Calhoun is a Lowcountry historian and says the course on the AP level is necessary. “We can’t just look at things through this monolithic lens because, at that point, we just have what we’ve been having over the last a hundred years, particularly when we start looking at history,” said Calhoun. The Charleston County School District said it received communication from the South Carolina Department of Education indicating the course code for AP African American studies wouldn’t be valid following the 2023 to 2024 school year.
“We will continue to offer the locally board-approved courses including an African American Studies elective course for the 2024-25 school year,” the district said in a statement. “Students across the state have access to dual credit opportunities, including Dual Enrollment African American History (HIS 115) and other courses.”

The Berkeley County School District said without the course code, it cannot schedule the class for AP credit. “Districts are permitted to approve courses locally, and African American History is currently a local board-approved course in BCSD and has been for a couple of years,” the statement from Berkeley County School District said. “African American History will continue as a local, board-approved course, and we will await a decision from the SC Department of Education regarding an AP course code.”

Calhoun’s push now is to encourage dialogue and advocate for studies to continue. “I look forward to trying to push it forward from a local level,” Calhoun said. “I know the state is saying that they’ll work with us on getting one if it’s locally desired. I know it’s locally desired as one of nine board members. It is desired by myself.” The state Department of Education told News 4 that they have no involvement in the pilot program beyond the creation of the course code. The college board says the course will be fully operational in 2024 through 2025.