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SRVUSD reports positive early feedback from new 9th-grade ethnic studies course
Summary
After implementing a semester-long introduction to ethnic studies for 9th graders, teachers and staff reported positive student survey results (624 respondents) with high ratings for empathy and community-building; the district plans further PD and curriculum review.
The San Ramon Valley Unified School District told trustees on Tuesday that the first-year rollout of a semester-long 9th-grade introduction to ethnic studies has produced generally positive early feedback from both students and teachers.
Director of Equity and Student Services Hung Yin and social-studies teachers outlined the course development, professional development for teachers and an initial student survey (624 responses). Staff said students gave the course an overall rating of 3.59 out of 5, with the highest-scoring outcomes reported as "I learned to understand and respect people of different ethnic, racial and religious groups" (4.4/5) and "I learned how to be a positive member of my community" (4.3/5).
Ethnic-studies teachers said classroom practices emphasized identity, community and respectful discussion of difficult topics. Teachers reported that students engaged in reflective work and projects; they also requested deeper local-history and present-day connections and noted pacing challenges given a semester format. The district plans a spring follow-up survey and additional summer or intersession professional development and curriculum review.
Public commenters were split: some praised the course and shared student success stories; others criticized aspects of the materials and asked for more balance in resources. Staff said they had added targeted PD sessions (including work on controversial conversations and Jewish-American identity) and would continue collaborating with UC Berkeley and outside curriculum partners.
What happens next: staff will collect spring survey data, continue teacher collaboration sessions and present recommended curricular adjustments to the board in a future meeting.
Representative quote: "Students said the course was meaningful, engaging and impactful; the highest student rating was that they learned to respect people of different backgrounds," a staff presenter said.
