College Board Releases Final Framework for AP African American Studies Course Amid Controversy

Revised course includes more material on Black history and culture, but controversial topics remain optional for the AP exam.

The College Board has released the final framework for its Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies course, set to launch in the 2024-2025 academic year.
The revised course includes more material on topics such as the Tulsa Race Massacre, Black culture's influence on film and sports, and discriminatory practices related to housing, known as redlining.
Controversial topics such as the Black Lives Matter movement and the debate over reparations remain optional for the AP exam.
The course has faced criticism from both conservative figures, such as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who claimed it pushed a political agenda, and from Black scholars and advocates who accused the College Board of bowing to political pressure.
The revised course will be available to all schools in the U.S. next year, but it remains unclear how many will actually offer it.