Amidst the ongoing struggle to address LGBTQ issues and race in Florida’s education system, the state’s Department of Education has taken a bold step in prohibiting an Advanced Placement (AP) psychology course offered to high school students. The nonprofit organization responsible for developing these courses, the College Board, revealed that the Florida Department of Education has deemed the course in violation of a new state law that forbids instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity.
The ban on the AP psychology curriculum adds to the mounting restrictions imposed by the administration of Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, who is currently competing with former U.S. President Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. Governor DeSantis has prominently positioned cultural issues as a central focus of his campaign.
Earlier this year, Florida also banned an AP African American studies course, asserting that it lacked educational value and historical accuracy, further underscoring the state’s contentious approach to discussing race in public classrooms.
The College Board acknowledged that the psychology course could still be presented if modified to comply with the state law. However, the organization strongly advised school districts to refrain from teaching the course in its current form, rather than presenting the material without content related to sexual orientation and gender identity.
In response, the College Board stated that any AP Psychology course taught in Florida would inevitably violate either the state’s law or college requirements, putting both students and educators in a challenging position. The Board urged Florida districts to hold off on offering AP Psychology until the state reconsiders its decision, allowing parents and students the autonomy to choose whether to enroll in the full course.
The discord between the Florida Department of Education and the College Board regarding the psychology course has escalated, with the latter accusing the former of attempting to block students from taking the AP Psychology Course just a week before the school year commences. The Department of Education, through spokesperson Cassandra Palelis, dismissed the allegations, calling on the College Board to continue offering the course while permitting teachers to operate within the state’s guidelines.
The clash between the state and the College Board began in May, as the Florida Department of Education reminded the organization of its recently passed law prohibiting instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity unless in health courses, from which parents can opt their children out. The state requested that the College Board review its course material and make necessary modifications to ensure compliance with the law and state board of education rules.
Nonetheless, the College Board maintained that such modifications would render the course ineligible for college credit and would compromise academic standards. As the discussions continue, the fate of AP Psychology in Florida remains uncertain, with educators, students, and LGBTQ advocates closely monitoring the developments in the state’s education policies.
Sources revealed that the Florida Department of Education and the College Board have been engaged in discussions regarding the psychology course since May. The state’s emphasis on eliminating LGBTQ content from the curriculum is likely to resonate further with the ongoing national conversation surrounding LGBTQ rights and inclusivity in educational settings.