There has been a recent buzz on campus surrounding the addition of a new mandatory class at Oak Park High School. What is this class and how will it affect OPHS students? 

In October of 2021, California passed a new piece of legislation stating that all high school students must complete an Ethnic Studies course to receive their high school diploma. 

According to curriculum released by the California Department of Education, “Ethnic studies helps bring students and communities together.”

Ethnic Studies itself is defined by the California School Boards Association as an examination of “the histories, experiences, and cultures of various racial and ethnic groups and explores race and ethnicity in various social, cultural, historical, political and economic contexts.” 

In 2022, the California Department of Education published the Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum to help guide and inform schools on how to build an ethnic studies class for students.

“Culturally meaningful and relevant curriculum such as an ethnic studies course, which helps students develop the skill sets to engage in critical conversations about race, can have a positive impact on students’ engagement in education and their achievement,” the Model Curriculum document states. 

The Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum was ​​adopted by the California State Board of Education in March 2021 and since then public schools across California have slowly begun to update their pre-existing curriculums and make space for the new class.

Oak Park Unified School District has been developing curriculum based on their interpretation of the new legislation. The OPHS course curriculum will cover what is being called the four traditional pillars of ethnic studies. The pillars include African American, Native American, Asian American and Pacific Islanders and Latino and Chicano studies.  

An email was also sent out by OPUSD, informing parents of the creation of an Ethnic Studies Instructional Materials Committee. 

“An Ethnic Studies Committee was formed to focus on how best to incorporate ethnic studies into the OPUSD high school graduation requirements,” Ellen Chevalier, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, wrote. 

The email also informed students and parents that as per state requirements, completing an ethnic studies course as a graduation requirement will begin in the 2029-2030 school year. However, before that, students may take a pilot version of the class that will begin being offered during the 2025-2026 school year.

Although nothing has been set in stone, it is anticipated that English teacher Jennifer Hankins will be one of the educators teaching the course. 

“As of right now, the Ethnic Studies course is being developed as a 12th-grade English class…however, nothing has been finalized since the curriculum still has to be approved by the OPUSD School Board,” Hankins said.