FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 8, 2021
SAN ANTONIO – The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities has issued the following statement in response to Governor Newsom’s signing AB 101 by Assembly Member Jose Medina, which requires high schools to provide ethnic studies starting in academic year 2025-2026 and requires students to take one semester of ethnic studies to graduate beginning in 2029-2030.
“The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities applauds Governor Newsom and the leadership of Assembly Member Medina for taking a positive step forward towards more inclusive education for all California.” said HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores. “The passage of AB 101 will allow all of California’s students to see themselves reflected in the curriculum”
California has one of the largest and most diverse student populations in the nation. Non-White ethnic populations account for over 71% of the student population, with more than 90 languages spoken in district schools. With 682 Hispanic-Serving School Districts (HSSDs) and 150 emerging HSSDs, it is critical that students build historical knowledge about the diverse racial and ethnic groups in their state and throughout the nation. Ethnic studies courses allow students to learn about racial-ethnic cultural and historical issues within state and national contexts, using culturally competent curricula to support student success by developing critical thinking skills.
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