California high school students will have to take courses in ethnic studies to get a diploma starting in 2029-30.
Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-California) signed the bill on Friday making California the first state to make ethnic studies as a graduation requirement. The curriculum focuses on marginalized groups African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, Native Americans, Native Americans and Pacific Islanders.
“It’s been a long wait,” said assemblyman Jose Medina (D-California). While his GOP counterparts have been railing against Critical Race Theory in the classroom, Medina believes in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd the California the curriculum needs to teach about cultural differences in order to make further social progress.
