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District outlines ethnic‑studies plan, adopts independent‑study updates after expedited reading
Summary
District staff described an ethnic‑studies course development process and said the curriculum is not intended to teach critical race theory; trustees also approved updates to policy 6158 to reflect new state law removing minimum days for short‑term independent study and changing attendance‑tracking requirements.
The Coalinga‑Huron Unified curriculum department on Nov. 13 presented plans to pilot an ethnic‑studies course at the high school and a work session for teachers and administrators on Nov. 14 to finalize the course structure.
The curriculum presenter said the district’s vision is "not to incorporate critical race theory into this study," but rather to help students "see themselves" in the curriculum and to "recognize and acknowledge those accomplishments of those races and those ethnicities" (direct quote summarized from transcript). The presenter described multiple instructional models under consideration (standalone semester, integrated course, or full‑year options) and said staff will reconvene with community members and students after an internal design phase.
On policy, trustees considered and adopted updates to Board Policy/Administrative Regulation 6158 on independent study to reflect newly enacted state legislation. Key changes noted on the record include elimination of a minimum number of days for short‑term independent study (allowing single‑day short‑term independent study and nonconsecutive days) and new guidance on tracking student work by hours or fractions of hours for ADA claims. Board members expressed concern that audit guidance had not yet been released and that implementing the new tracking requirements will be challenging; the board voted to skip a second reading and approved the updates at the meeting.
