The Palo Alto Unified School District’s implementation plan for Ethnic Studies, a newly required course for the class of 2029, will be formally presented by the ethnic studies committee at the Dec. 12 board meeting. 

The course will be a semester-long freshman sociology class that examines various aspects of racial identity and the historical context behind intercultural dynamics, according to Jeff Patrick, Gunn High School’s social studies department instructional lead. The curriculum will allow students to explore ethnic groups of their own interests, but focus largely on the histories of four main groups: African Americans, Native Americans, Latin Americans and Asian Americans.   

The implementation follows Governor Gavin Newsom’s signing of Assembly Bill 101 into law in 2021, which states that school districts must offer an ethnic studies course starting in the 2025-2026 academic year. While California offers a model curriculum for schools to adopt, PAUSD Superintendent Don Austin said the district instead intends to adapt PAUSD’s existing elective. The Ethnic Studies committee plans to address curriculum disparities by involving the community and stakeholders.

The ethnic studies task force of social studies teachers at both Gunn and Palo Alto high schools  have already outlined the five units of the course: “Identity,” “Race and ethnicity,” “History and migration,” “Language culture and learning” and “Action and civic engagement.” The course seeks to focus on stories of resistance and local issues through a discussion-based format. 

PAUSD parent and co-president of the Palo Alto Chinese Parents Club Nichole Chiu-Wang sees Ethnic Studies as a crucial step in combating racism in schools. But for others, such as Middle Eastern and North African students, the course perpetuates a pattern of inadequate representation in history classes. 

“As MENA students in PAUSD, we noticed the only time we were mentioned in history classes were in terms of war, poverty, and terrorism,” Gunn senior Deena Abu-Dayeh said. “MENA not being in ethnic studies would reinforce and push these stereotypes. We want to clear our name and be heard.”

To remedy this, the course plans to incorporate “student choice,” with which students will work on capstone projects that explore ethnic groups and events of their choosing. 

Ethnic Studies will be integrated into PAUSD’s curriculum ahead of the state deadline for ample adjustment time, ensuring a comprehensive approach.

“This district doesn’t have a great track record of talking about things in a way that doesn’t do damage, so I would like to take the time and make sure we do it safely,” Board President Jennifer DiBrienza said. “If [we] can have that time to get input from students currently taking [Ethnic Studies] and from our community members … we can see the things that really move our district and impact our students.”

The course will also emphasize the core freshman skills outlined in the Essential Learning Outcomes, which range from historical thinking and writing to conversing and citizenship. 

Patrick said he hopes the emphasis on themes and skill building will help mitigate some of the concerns that the course purposely favors one group over another.

“Sometimes we don’t recognize the strength in diversity, and I think that that is a benefit of this course,” Patrick said. “It’s hard to fully understand the issues, challenges that some people face because of their societally imposed group beam. We’re trying to fill that gap here with the course, which then allows you to have that broader perspective and understand issues that people are facing.”