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Corona-Norco outlines pilot plan for state ethnic-studies graduation requirement
Summary
District officials presented a multi-year plan to pilot ethnic-studies courses starting in fall 2025, saying the district will offer opt-in pilots if state funding is delayed and will post course outlines for parent review in May.
Dr. Gina Boster, who is leading the district’s ethnic-studies work, told the Corona‑Norco Unified School District board the state-mandated graduation requirement will be implemented through a multi-year timeline and local pilots.
Boster said the state’s 2021 decision requires students in the graduation class of 2030 to complete at least one semester of ethnic studies, and the district plans to pilot courses beginning in fall 2025. “The governor did not fund this in his proposed budget,” Boster said, so the district will proceed with non‑mandatory, opt‑in pilot courses this year while continuing to develop curriculum and staff training.
The presentation outlined a seven‑year timeline that includes teacher professional development, course design, and the use of a one‑time grant of about $450,000 to pay consultants, training and associated expenses. Boster said the district is using the state model curriculum and will supplement it with local and regional history sources to ensure relevant local content.
Board members asked whether there are state‑approved textbooks for the course; Boster replied there are none and said curriculum will be developed from the state framework and local materials. She described four foundational disciplinary areas (African American, Chicano/Latino, Native American, and Asian American/Pacific Islander studies) and said the district will emphasize differentiated instruction and thematic course options that high schools can adopt where staffing and master schedules allow.
Students who have taken the elective in prior semesters spoke to the board about their experiences. Student board member F (speaking as a student visitor) told trustees the class increased engagement and gave some students a chance to study their own cultures in class. “The class widened the scope of students’ ability to learn of the rich diversity that’s embedded within our history,” one student testified.
Boster said the district has identified roughly 36 classroom teachers, several site administrators and district staff participating in training. The advisory committee recommended a professional‑development vendor and the district plans to present course outlines to a High School Curriculum Council in April and post outlines and unit plans for community review in May, both online and at the parent center. The board was told that, following public input, course proposals will be returned to the board for approval in June so pilot sections can begin in August.
Why it matters: The change is a state graduation requirement with local curriculum implementation choices; whether the course becomes mandatory in 2025 depends on state funding and the district’s course approvals. The board will have an opportunity to review course outlines in May and is scheduled to consider final approval in June.
What’s next: Course outlines and unit plans will be posted for public review in May, staff said. If the board approves the proposed courses in June, pilot sections could begin in fall 2025.
