Public urges Riverside Unified to keep ethnic-studies graduation requirement; board moves item to discussion
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Summary
Dozens of community members, teachers, students and scholars urged the Riverside Unified board to retain ethnic-studies as a graduation requirement. Staff noted the state provision (referred to as AVE 101 / AB 101) ties the mandate to state funding; the board moved the agenda item from action to discussion to gather more data and stakeholder input.
A broad coalition of parents, teachers, students, academics and community leaders urged Riverside Unified’s board on Dec. 18 to preserve ethnic-studies as a high-school graduation requirement.
Public commenters described ethnic-studies courses as central to students’ academic engagement and identity development and cited research connecting ethnic-studies with improved attendance and graduation rates. ‘‘We urge you to keep this as a requirement,’’ said one commenter representing the Institute of Civil Rights; another, an ethnic-studies teacher, told the board she had seen improved motivation and critical thinking among students who took the courses.
Board staff told trustees the district had been a leader in offering ethnic-studies courses for 15 years and referenced a prior board resolution (documented in the materials as "resolución 2020 veintiuno - 40"). Staff also cited a state bill referenced in the presentation as AVE 101 (also mentioned as AB 101 in public remarks) and noted that a state funding appropriation originally anticipated in June was not allocated; that funding shortfall leaves the state-level requirement contingent and in limbo.
After hearing more than a dozen speakers and extended board discussion, the board voted to withdraw the item from immediate action and treat it as a dialogue. Board members asked staff to compile further data — including program costs, scheduling impacts, enrollment and outcomes — and to consult teachers, students and advisory committees before returning a recommendation. ‘‘We want more data and broader input before making a policy change,’’ a board member said during the discussion.
No formal change to district policy was adopted at the meeting; the item will return for further consideration after staff analyses and community follow-up.
