Explore the Initiative

Topics

About

This section will help you gain insights into the background and significance of California’s high school graduation requirement. We've included historical information on California's high school Ethnic Studies graduation requirement and our initiative's potential impact on California high school teachers and school districts through an exploratory report. We're also developing an oral history project for you to trace the roots of Ethnic Studies and immerse yourself in the activism of the original 1969 Third World Liberation Front (TWLF) strikers at UC Berkeley. 

Shot of books on shelf, book titles blurred

Exploratory Research Report

The UC Berkeley High School Ethnic Studies Exploratory Report examines the potential of a UC Berkeley curriclum development effort in supporting Bay Area high school teacher and school districts, and therefore future generations of California students. Although the report is exploratory and not exhaustive, it does offer strategic reasons for UC Berkeley's involvement in the California High School Ethnic Studies graduation requirement and recommendations for how, where, and when to interact.

Protestors in silouhette advocating for a High School Ethnic Studies at the California State Capitol

Background

After years of grassroots efforts and advocacy, in 2021 the California Board of Education approved a high school Ethnic Studies model curriculum, designed to include the significant contributions of Asian, Black, Latino, and Native Americans in national and state history and life. On October 8, 2021, Governor Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill (AB) 101, which requires 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. Learn more

Body shot of LaNada WarJack standing her fist raised at a museum exhibit that features posters of indigenous movements

Third World Liberation Front (TWLF) Oral History Project

Third World Liberation Front (TWLF) Oral History Project features interviews with student strikers from the 1969 and 1999 TWLF movements. This page is under development and will link to selected interviews on Calisphere.