College Board

The College Board's latest version of the AP African American Studies course includes teachings on intersectionality and Black feminism, but makes instruction on the Black Lives Matter Movement and reparations optional.

Controversy swirled around the new course after it was rejected by the Florida Department of Education, with conservative critics accusing the College Board of bias.

In a letter to state superintendents, Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. said the state believed the psychology course could be taught "in its entirety."

Central Florida mental health providers are voicing support for the College Board’s decision to keep gender identity and sexuality in AP Psychology classes in Florida.

The College Board says changes will be made to its new AP African American studies course, after critics said the agency bowed to political pressure and removed several topics from the framework, including Black Lives Matter, slavery reparations and queer life. The course gained national attention this winter when Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he would ban the course in his state.

The nonprofit, American Oversight, is requesting records involving communication between state and federal education officials, outside groups, and the office of Gov. DeSantis.

Said Sharpton: “Our children need to know the whole story. Not to not only know how bad you were, but to know how strong they are."

Tensions became public after the state rejected several topics that were proposed for inclusion in an Advanced Placement African American studies course.

The nonprofit says Florida leaders never suggested specific changes to the new AP African American Studies course. Gov. Ron DeSantis said the state may "reevaluate" its relationship with the group.

The letter to the College Board regarding “AP classroom” the Florida Department of Education references a back-and-forth between the two entities that goes back to last year.

The College Board, which oversees Advanced Placement courses, says the revisions to the African American history course were already underway prior to Gov. DeSantis’ objections to some of the material.

NPR's Leila Fadel talks to Teresa Reed, dean of the University of Louisville's School of Music and a member of the committee that developed the College Board's AP African American studies class.