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Central Unified approves new secondary courses after extended debate over ethnic studies
Summary
The Central Unified Board of Trustees voted to approve a set of new secondary courses — including a semester-long ethnic studies class and a personal finance math option — after trustees and staff spent more than an hour questioning curriculum, grade placement, teacher credentials and community engagement plans.
The Central Unified Board of Trustees voted to approve a package of new secondary courses, including a semester ethnic studies course planned for 9th grade and a yearlong personal finance course as a 4th‑year math option, during the Jan. 14 meeting.
Trustee Kirk (Trustee, Central Unified Board of Trustees) pressed district staff for details during a wide-ranging discussion about the ethnic studies course, asking why the district planned to schedule it in 9th grade rather than as an 11th‑ or 12th‑grade offering and whether the curriculum follows the California State Board model curriculum. Assistant Superintendent Dr. Boatwright (Assistant Superintendent, Central Unified School District) and Erin English (Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Central Unified School District) said the district used the state model as a starting point and that scheduling the semester‑long course in 9th grade was tied to how health — a state‑required semester course — is already placed in students’ schedules.
English told trustees that teachers who helped shape the local curriculum reviewed the state guidance and selected materials that matched Central Unified’s student demographics. She summarized the four broad areas the course will cover as “African, Asian, Latin American and indigenous populations,” and said teachers had adapted examples from other districts while removing materials that would not fit the district’s context.
Trustee Kirk asked about teacher qualifications. Dr. Boatwright said ethnic studies would be taught by instructors credentialed in history and social science; district staff said teachers interested in offering the course will receive professional development. The board also discussed a $2,000 line item in the course packet for classroom materials; Dr. Boatwright said that request covers duplication and primary‑source materials and that other funding sources exist for professional development and books.
Trustees and staff also discussed student and community input. Trustee Kirk asked whether student feedback had been gathered; staff said pilot feedback was available from Central High and that additional community input could be collected as the curriculum is finalized. Several trustees urged a formal community feedback step before full roll‑out.
On the personal finance course, the board heard that the district intends to offer it as a rigorous yearlong option that would meet University of California “a–g” mathematics requirements and serve as a fourth‑year math alternative aligned with AB 2927 planning. Superintendent Davis noted the course provides a broadly applicable fourth‑year math option for students not pursuing AP calculus paths.
The board voted 7‑0 to approve the new secondary courses and asked staff to return with a finalized curriculum, documentation of student/community feedback, and details about staffing and materials before registration begins.
Next steps: staff will finish the curriculum development this semester, gather and report student and community feedback to the board, and work with high school master schedulers to assign courses for fall enrollment.
