Young people in the entire state are displeased with recent revelations that AP African American Studies will no longer be a state-funded class. State Superintendent Richard Woods labeled this course “illegal” in accordance with HB 1084, but there are specific protections that exclude AP and Dual Enrollment courses from divisive concepts. 
 
The keepers of our youth must have moral integrity and initiative not only to know when attacks on education are happening but also to act on them. Allowing the state of Georgia to make implicit decisions limiting access to quality education is not acting with moral integrity and initiative. The state’s decision to cut AP AAS funding enables local governments to cast this class to the side passively. This sets a precedent for the disregard of history. 
 
Courses like AP African American Studies are crucial because they highlight the contributions and resilience of Black people who greatly shaped our society and culture. Black history is just as vital for all students as learning AP European History and AP World History. This course provides knowledge, perspective, and analysis that unfortunately is not offered in other history courses thereby further necessitating its academic significance. In addition to taking the class for post-secondary credentials, it allows Georgia students to be on par with students from states offering it. Most importantly, AP African American Studies offers a more rigorous and comprehensive view of American history, promotes contextual understanding, and allows learning from past systemic wrongdoings so they won't be repeated. Learning Black history helps dismantle stereotypes and empowers all students to become informed, inclusive, and intellectually rounded citizens. Including it in our education ensures the entire narrative of our shared past is honored and preserved.  
 
The decision not to fund AP African American Studies signals the message that the state of Georgia does not value the contributions of African American people. This act reinforces the notion of education leaders devaluing the need for Black students to learn their own history and for their peers to learn it, too. It deprioritizes teaching young people the truth about how our present reality came to be and where we are going. More than anything, this decision signals that the state of Georgia does not value giving its students the ability to choose coursework capable of enriching and preparing them for their futures. 
 
We urge you to attend our Youth-Led Community Forum on Wednesday, August 7th, from 6:00 PM-8:00 PM at Collin’s Hills Public Library in Lawrenceville GA. This event will allow students, parents, educators, and stakeholders alike to understand the community's opinions and desires on this matter. We are attaching the flyer to this petition and issuing you a formal invitation. 

On Monday, July 22, Gwinnett County Public Schools announced the sudden discontinuation of funding for the AP African American Studies (AAS) course. This news was shocking and disheartening for me, a Black student, and for alumni, parents, and other students. The Partnership for Southern Equity's YES! for Equity condemns this decision, along with the prior one by the Georgia Department of Education Superintendent.

We invite you to be a part of this conversation and come out to the Collin's Hill Public Library on Wednesday at 6 PM to discuss with other students, parents, teachers, and decision-makers!

We are inviting you to be a part of this conversation and come out to the Collin's Hill Public Library on Wednesday at 6 PM to discuss with other students, parents, teachers, and decision-makers! We are also asking you to bring/invite the students in your life who live in the Metro Atlanta area.  We are inviting both Sup. Calvin Watts of Gwinnett and Sup. Richard Woods to attend. Other organizations to co-host including the ACLU, 100 Black Men, Urban League, and Southern Education Foundation.  WE NEED YOUR HELP to spread the word about this event!

Register here! https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Ozqg4Q9o-kem-QwgCkOpbUKlajkL74BIvXU5uNRlr1pUOVVBNTJRSUQ2RTdYUk5NSzE5UjlMUTExVS4u

FL, AK, and SC have already been successful in eliminating Black History from their curriculums. We cannot let that happen in GA.

 Here are some Articles that can be helpful:

Sup. Woods deeming AP AAS illegal! 
https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/georgia-superintendent-labels-ap-african-american-studies-course-illegal (https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/georgia-superintendent-labels-ap-african-american-studies-course-illegal 

HB 1084 Https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20212022/212225 (https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20212022/212225