Cobb to Continue Offering AP African American Studies

Cobb County Schools confirmed it will continue to offer AP African-American studies at one high school after State School Superintendent Richard Woods announced he would not recommend the Georgia Department of Education fund the pilot course for the 2024-25 school year.

The announcement sparked outrage and disbelief among critics, some drawing connection to the “divisive concepts” legislation passed by the General Assembly’s Republican leaders in 2022, which prohibited teaching U.S. history in a way that might make any student feel guilty or that they are superior or inferior to anyone else based on their race.

Though Woods doubled down on his rationale in a Wednesday press release, stating that he had “concerns about the state endorsing the totality of the course,” he walked back the threatened funding cut.

The release stated that as long as schools use the course code of the existing African-American studies class — a non-advanced version of the course — they will receive state funding to provide the instruction.

“Should districts choose to do so, they may teach some or all of the standards in the AP African American Studies course using this code (and students may take the associated AP exam) … It’s my position that districts should use the existing course code — which offers them the flexibility to develop their own curriculum based on local priorities, or to use standards from the AP course if they choose and in consultation with their communities,” Woods’ Wednesday statement reads.

In a Wednesday email to the MDJ, the Cobb School District’s communications department confirmed that one of its high schools — Wheeler — has offered the pilot, and will continue to do so.

“We’re doing what we’re doing. It’s not changing any of our plans,” Superintendent Chris Ragsdale told the MDJ Thursday.

Ragsdale said he did not have an opinion on Woods’ choice to threaten the funding since he wasn’t privy to the thought process behind it.

“I don’t know what went in (to it). I don’t know the details of it,” Ragsdale said.

Ragsdale isn’t the only one in the dark about state superintendent’s rationale.

Gov. Brian Kemp penned a letter to Woods Wednesday, asking Woods which specific parts of the curriculum prompted his initial recommendation to not fund the course, how many students took the pilot and how many school districts offered it.

He also questioned why Woods opted not to move forward with the course when it passed an initial review made before the pilot, how much it cost the state to pilot the course this year and how many other pilot courses have not been recommended for continuation in the last decade.

“The wellbeing of Georgia’s children and their educational opportunities is one of my top priorities,” Kemp wrote. “As a long time believer that families should ultimately make the decisions which best meet their child’s academic needs and futures, I would appreciate your attention to the above questions and answers you and your staff can provide in a timely manner.”

Cobb Board of Education member Leroy Tre’ Hutchins told the MDJ Wednesday that even if the state wasn’t providing funding, he wanted to see Wheeler High School move forward with the pilot course.

“(The) curriculum is important to our community schools … History is history. African-American history is American history,” Hutchins said.

Cobb Board of Education Chairman Randy Scamihorn told the MDJ Wednesday that though he hasn’t looked into this specific move enough to issue a lengthy opinion, he trusts Woods and has “unequivocally” agreed with his choices in the past.

“I trust him in making the right decisions and the right choice,” Scamihorn said. “... I believe he’s in his third term and he’s brought stability to the state education office, as well as excellence. And, I believe his background is in social studies. So he’s well qualified to make that decision.”

Scamihorn said Woods taking issue with the course raised some alarm bells for him.

“That tells me there was some issues with the curriculum,” Scamihorn said.

Marietta Schools Superintendent Grant Rivera did not return the MDJ’s requests for comment.

Chris Fiore, spokesman for Marietta City Schools, confirmed that Marietta High School has not offered the pilot course in the past and will not be offering it this year.

“Course offerings at MHS are determined based on balancing course requirements and matriculation needs for multiple programs, including but not limited to International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, Dual Enrollment, Accelerated Diploma, and CTAE Pathways,” a statement from the Marietta district’s communications department reads.

Marietta School Board Chairman Jeff DeJarnett told the MDJ Wednesday that he could not comment on Woods’ decision.

“I wouldn’t want to comment on it until I read a little bit about it. I don’t know anything about it at this point,” DeJarnett said.