Orange County Department of Education outlines timeline to pilot Ethnic Studies course, seeks board and public feedback

Orange County Department of Education staff on Feb. 3 presented a draft Ethnic Studies course and a schedule for board and public review, saying the course would be piloted in the 2025–26 school year and submitted for UC a–g approval.

"Our mission is to develop an Ethnic Studies curriculum that celebrates cultural connections, cultivates empathy, and maintains a balanced and unifying approach or perspective," Jonathan Swanson, director of Curriculum, Instruction and Academic Enrichment, told the board during the presentation.

The course would be a standalone, five-credit, thematic course for ninth through 12th grade. Staff said the course is being designed to meet the requirements of AB 101 and to be available for certification on the UC Doorways platform so other districts and schools can adopt it. Trish Walsh, administrator of Humanities, said the writing team intends the course to be A–G eligible as a G (elective) and flexible enough to accommodate students entering Access at different grade levels.

Staff described a multi-step process: board review of an initial draft in February via small workshop settings, editing through March, a public review period planned for April, and final revisions with the goal of board approval in May or June depending on the amount of public feedback. If approved, the district plans teacher training and a summer rollout to support the pilot in fall 2025.

Community participants who attended the public feedback sessions praised the process. Alana Marovich, who identified herself as part of Orange County's Jewish community and a participant in the feedback sessions, described the writing process as inclusive and praised organizing materials thematically rather than by single-group units so students would "see themselves in the room" and also gain windows into others' histories and experiences.

Staff said materials will be shared with board members in workshop settings (limited to two board members per session when necessary) and a plan for public feedback will be brought back at the April meeting. Jonathan Swanson said the writing team will make edits based on board and public input before returning for approval.

Board members asked procedural and implementation questions, including how the course would appear on transcripts and how districts outside Orange County could access it online. Superintendent Bean and staff explained that, after local approval, the course would be submitted to UC Doorways for a–g review and that staff plan to place finalized materials into the district's Canvas learning-management system so other districts or schools could import materials into their own systems. Staff clarified that access to the materials (hosting on Canvas or UC Doorways) is distinct from awarding course credit, which would require the receiving district or school to accept the course for local credit.

The board did not take formal action on the course during the meeting; staff were directed to schedule review workshops and to return with a plan for public feedback in April.

Board members and staff said the writing team — composed of Access teachers and invited community reviewers — will continue revisions and teacher-preparation work ahead of the planned pilot.