Chico Unified outlines classes and timeline to meet state ethnic-studies requirement

Pedro Caldera and teachers leading the district ethnic-studies work told the board that Chico Unified has spent three years developing courses and training staff to meet the 2021 state requirement that ethnic studies be available and, by 2030, included as a graduation requirement. Caldera summarized the timeline and said the goal is to have a semester-long offering on the books for fall 2025 and to integrate ethnic-studies standards into world and U.S. history courses so students can satisfy both history and ethnic-studies requirements.

Gina Snyder (Chico High) described the course models: a semester course with a human-cultural geography lens aimed primarily at ninth graders, plus content woven into world and U.S. history. Snyder said the district has pursued professional development (UC Riverside certificates and Berkeley-led training) and secured grant funding to support course development and ongoing teacher training.

Board members asked whether the course would be an elective or a required social-studies offering for ninth graders; staff clarified it will be a social-studies offering for ninth grade and a semester-long option for any high school student that can satisfy the ethnic-studies graduation requirement. Staff will pilot courses this spring and continue revisions over the summer before final approval in March.

Board members thanked staff for extensive cross-district collaboration; the presentation noted follow-up steps including course approvals, registration for fall classes and continuing teacher professional development.