|
Dear PTA Members,
As the new school year rapidly approaches, Florida PTA would like to keep you informed about actions we have taken this week in response to the current controversy surrounding the teaching of AP Psychology in Florida. This controversy has followed closely upon earlier contentious discussions about AP African American History and standards delineating instruction on that topic as well as about the general appropriateness of K-12 instructional, classroom and media center materials pertinent to a wide variety of subjects.
BACKGROUND:
During the past two years, the Florida Legislature has passed laws that restrict K-12 instruction and K-12 students’ access to materials on concepts pertaining to race, color, national origin, and sex (HB 7, 2022) and gender identity and sexual orientation (HB 1557, 2022; HB 1069, 2023). Florida PTA opposed all three bills based on longstanding position statements denouncing censorship and supporting inclusive curricula. Our opposition was all the more essential since all three bills were written using ambiguous language open to highly subjective interpretation and allowed for others than students’ parents to dictate their access to educational resources and instruction.
On the basis of these bills, the Department of Education has made unprecedented decisions to reject instructional materials in mathematics and social studies, as well as unprecedented demands requiring providers to alter the content of courses such as AP African American History and AP Psychology. A pilot course in AP African American History was shut down mid-year during the 2022-2023 school year, and the status of AP Psychology, which 27,000 Florida students took last year, remains in doubt due to its inclusion of content pertaining to gender identity and sexual orientation. The College Board, provider for all AP standards and examinations, made adjustments to the content of AP African American History, a brand-new course offering, but balked at changing AP Psychology, which has for decades included a section on sexuality.
This past week the College Board formally declared that it would not recognize any AP Psychology course missing this content. In response, Florida Education Commissioner issued a letter indicating that AP Psychology could be taught in Florida “in its entirety,” but nonetheless provided the caveat that instruction be “age and developmentally appropriate.” School districts, concerned that teachers and administrators might be sanctioned for offering or authorizing the same instruction and materials as in effect in previous years, have written parents to inform them that AP Psychology will not be among courses available in 2023-2024.
OUR ACTIONS:
Florida PTA believes that the pendulum has swung too far away from the moderate, child-centered positions for which we have always advocated, and that parent and community engagement, which we strongly support, has been misinterpreted as selective parent and community absolutism.
Accordingly, we have written to the Commissioner of Education [found here] to request that he provide clarification that AP Psychology instruction can proceed as in previous years, without repercussions to teachers, administrators, or school board members. We have further urged him to work with the Florida Legislature to amend statutory language that is unnecessarily and detrimentally vague or that usurps the right of individual parents to direct the education of their children.
We have likewise issued a press release [found here] to acquaint the general public with our stance. Moreover, in accordance with our mission, we will be working with school boards and the Florida Legislature in the coming year to place the education, health, safety, and well-being of students once again at the center of their focus.
Please reach out to us at info@floridapta.org with any questions or concerns.
Thank you for advocating on behalf of all children and youth.
Peace, power, and freedom,
Carolyn Nelson-Goedert
Florida PTA | President
president@floridapta.org
#FLPTACultivatingLeaders
#MyChildYourChildOurChildren
#WeAreIsGreaterThanIAm
| 
