The conclusion comes shortly after the education nonprofit expressed concerns that the state had effectively prohibited the course due to its coverage of sexual orientation and gender identity
The conclusion comes shortly after the education nonprofit expressed concerns that the state had effectively prohibited the course due to its coverage of sexual orientation and gender identity
Florida and the College Board appeared to have come to a resolution concerning the inclusion of LGBTQ themes in the state’s Advanced Placement Psychology classes.
The conclusion comes shortly after the education nonprofit expressed concerns that the state had effectively prohibited the course due to its coverage of sexual orientation and gender identity, the NBC News reported.
Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. conveyed in a letter addressed to school superintendents on Friday that the Department of Education “is not dissuading districts from instructing AP Psychology.”
He further asserted that the Department believes the course can be comprehensively taught while maintaining age-appropriateness. Diaz emphasized that AP Psychology remains listed in the official course catalog.
In response to the Florida Department of Education’s updated guidance, the College Board, which administers standardized tests like the SAT and offers advanced classes to high school students, issued a statement obtained by NBC on Monday.
The statement noted that “AP Psychology may be taught in its entirety,” and expressed the hope that Florida educators will be able to cover the complete curriculum, including content pertaining to gender and sexual orientation, without concerns of repercussions in the upcoming academic year.
The College Board characterizes the LGBTQ-related content within the course as lessons about “how sex and gender shape socialization and various developmental aspects.”
In a statement released on Aug. 3, the College Board said that the Florida Education Department had effectively banned AP Psychology in the state.
This purported ban arose from the Florida Education Department’s directive to superintendents, asserting that teaching foundational material concerning sexual orientation and gender identity would be in violation of state law.
“To be clear, any AP Psychology course taught in Florida will violate either Florida law or college requirements. Therefore, we advise Florida districts not to offer AP Psychology until Florida reverses their decision and allows parents and students to choose to take the full course,” it said.
The law in question, colloquially referred to as the “Don’t Say Gay” law, or the Florida Parental Rights in Education act, imposes limitations on the discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity within the state’s educational settings.
