Background

California's High School Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum

In 2014, California's El Rancho Unified School District (ERUSD), which serves the area of Pico Rivera, became the first school district in California to require an ethnic studies class as a graduation requirement. That year, the Ethnic Studies Now Coalition (ESNC), an independent, grassroots coalition of teachers, parents, students, academics, elected officials, and non-profits from across and beyond California, was formed. ESNC sent emails and letters and placed thousands of calls to elected officials advocating the expansion of Ethnic Studies to all California school districts. 

In March 2021, the California Board of Education approved a high school Ethnic Studies model curriculum that included contributions of Asian, Black, Latinx, and Native Americans. On October 8, 2021, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 101into law, which will require all local educational agencies (LEAs), including charter schools, serving high school students, to provide a full-year course in ethnic studies by the 2025-26 school year, for students graduating in the 2029-30 school year and beyond.

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Image of a row of a racially diverse group of California high school students