Palm Springs Unified board approves AP African American studies course and directs staff to seek U.S. history alignment by 2026–27

The Palm Springs Unified School District Board of Education on Feb. 11 approved a course description for AP African American Studies and added a board directive that staff develop the class to meet California's U.S. history graduation requirements by the 2026–27 school year, with monthly progress updates to the board.

The vote followed nearly an hour of public comment from students, parents, teachers and community members who urged the district to offer the course as a fully accredited A–G class and not relegate it to an elective. Several speakers tied the curriculum debate to broader concerns about unaddressed hate speech and student safety in district schools.

"There's not a lot of people around my school and around the valley that look like me," said Samantha Henry, a sophomore at Palm Springs High School, urging the board to make African American history an accredited part of students' U.S. history education. Student speakers repeatedly said existing lessons often stop…