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Public pressure and student testimony lead Harford County BOE to restore AP African American Studies
Summary
After a packed public-comment period with dozens of speakers urging reversal, the Harford County Board of Education voted to grant regular status to the AP African American Studies course following presentations from teachers, students and curriculum staff and an extended board Q&A about balance and implementation.
A standing‑room crowd pressed the Harford County Board of Education on July 15 to reverse its earlier decision denying regular status to AP African American Studies, and the board voted to restore the course after hearing student testimony, teacher briefings and a plan for classroom safeguards.
The evening’s public comment window — more than 200 people were recorded as registering and at least 60 spoke in person — was dominated by students, teachers and community leaders who described the course as academically rigorous and personally transformative. "This course made me feel seen, heard and understood," said Haven Rosen, a student who took the pilot course at Aberdeen High School. "African American history is American history." Several teachers and principals told the board the pilot produced strong student engagement and that many students expected APAA to be their first AP class.
Curriculum staff and AP teachers presented the College Board’s…
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