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San Marino Unified presents proposed World Literature ethnic studies course; board will consider adoption May 13
Summary
Teachers and administrators presented a proposed World Literature ethnic studies curriculum for English 10 required under state law. The board held a public hearing with no in‑person or virtual speakers and will receive a recommendation for adoption at the May 13 meeting.
San Marino Unified School District staff and San Marino High School English teachers presented a proposed World Literature ethnic studies curriculum on April 22 and said the course will return to the board with a recommendation for adoption at the May 13 meeting.
The presentation proceeds under California's ethnic studies requirements. District staff said the course was developed after review of the Los Angeles County Office of Education toolkit and related materials and committee meetings that included teachers, students, parents and administrators.
"Our goal was to take our very effective, tried and true ... curriculum and overlay ethnic studies into that curriculum with really as few changes as possible," said Lisa Davidson, a San Marino High School English teacher who described the six proposed units, anchor texts and supplementary materials that teachers piloted this year.
Principal Dr. Ben Wolf and English teachers detailed unit plans that include civil disobedience (anchored by Antigone), cultural and societal identity (Chronicle of a Death Foretold), societal expectations and gender (Twelfth Night and The Awakening for honors), indigenous voices (Things Fall Apart) and identity/alienation (The Girl with Seven Names and The Stranger for honors). Teacher Lizette Arellano described a unit capstone focused on community engagement and a presentation of student projects.
Dr. Dina Richter, who introduced the public hearing, said notice of the hearing was posted at the district office, school sites and the district website at least 10 days in advance as required by Education Code. No attendees requested to speak during the public hearing period, district staff said.
District staff said the course will be presented to the board on May 13 with a recommendation for adoption so San Marino Unified can meet the state requirement that districts offer an ethnic studies course by the 2025–26 school year. The staff presentation noted that Assembly Bill 101 requires local educational agencies to offer ethnic studies and that students in the class of 2030 will be the first subject to a graduation requirement related to ethnic studies.
The proposal is informational tonight; the board will take formal action when it votes on the course adoption at the May 13 meeting.
