San Dieguito Union High School District

Ethnic Studies Graduation Requirement

The State Board of Education's model curriculum defines Ethnic Studies as an interdisciplinary field that addresses ”content considered missing from traditional curriculum and to encourage critical engagement."

SDUHSD is in the planning process for the new California Ethnic Studies graduation requirement, including community engagement and content design. Please see the information on this page for all details and updates about the SDUHSD implementation of the Ethnic Studies graduation requirement.

Implementation Plan

View the Ethnic Studies Implementation Plan as a PDF

Unit review & feedback cycle

Draft Unit Links will be updated pending board approval.	Feedback Form Feedback forms close to allow for data review and consideration in preparation for upcoming Board Meetings	Step of the Unit Review and Feedback Cycle
Draft of Unit 1 - Board approved Sept. 12, 2024	Ethnic Studies Unit 1 Feedback Survey: Parents/Community - closed	Professional Learning for teachers to support trying on proposed lessons in classrooms Gather student and teacher feedback
Draft of Unit 2 - Board approved Oct. 17, 2024	Ethnic Studies Unit 2 Feedback Survey: Parents/Community - Closed	Professional Learning for teachers to support trying on proposed lessons in classrooms Gather student and teacher feedback
Draft of Unit 3 - Board approved Nov. 14, 2024	Ethnic Studies Unit 3 Feedback Survey: Parents/Community - Closed	Professional Learning for teachers to support trying on proposed lessons in classrooms Gather student and teacher feedback
Draft of Unit 4 - Board approved Dec 16, 2024	Ethnic Studies Unit 4 Feedback Survey: Parents/Community - Closed	Professional Learning for teachers to support trying on proposed lessons in classrooms Gather student and teacher feedback

Last updated on December 18, 2024

Ethnic Studies Unit Review and Feedback Cycle Diagram

Community Updates

2024

Community Engagement Nights
Sessions for parents, families, and the community to participate in SDUHSD’s Ethnic Studies Engagement Plan.
Click here for information in English | Spanish | Mandarin ES Community Engagement Nights

UPDATES

October 2024 - The table above, under the Unit review & feedback cycle section, was created to easily display updates.
October 8, 2024 - The 3rd Community Engagement Session included SDUHSD Educational Services Department updates, and a review of the DRAFT of Unit 3: Systems: Progress & Barriers. Participants had the opportunity to experience mini-lessons led by district English teachers and to engage in feedback conversations, facilitated by NCRC and SDUHSD staff. Parents/families/community members in attendance provided verbal feedback during the event and have the opportunity to provide ongoing written feedback via a survey.
October 8, 2024 - Update to Unit 3 Theme and Board Study Session date on the SDUHSD Ethnic Studies Engagement Plan Timeline.
September 17, 2024 - The 2nd Community Engagement Session included SDUHSD Educational Services Department updates, Community Listening Circles, and a review of the DRAFT of Unit 2: History of Movement. Participants experienced mini-lessons led by district English teachers and engaged in feedback conversations, facilitated by NCRC and SDUHSD staff. Parents/families/community members in attendance provided verbal feedback during the event and had the opportunity to provide ongoing written feedback via a survey.
September 12, 2024 - As part of the Board meeting, Unit 1 was discussed by the Board of Trustees and approved for related initial professional development and trying on of the lessons in current English 9 and English 9 Honors courses.
August 22, 2024 - The 1st Ethnic Studies Board Study Session was held, focused on review and feedback of the DRAFT of Unit 1: Identity.
August 14, 2024 - The first Ethnic Studies Community Engagement Session was hosted at EWMS and included Community Listening Circles, SDUHSD Educational Services Department updates, and a review of the DRAFT of Unit 1: Identity. Participants had the opportunity to provide written and verbal feedback during the event and via a feedback survey.
June 20, 2024 - an update detailing the SDUHSD Ethnic Studies Engagement Plan was provided to the Board of Trustees.
May 16, 2024 - a presentation was provided to the Board of Trustees and the public. As noted in the slides, the work is ongoing and more information is planned, including in August after summer work.
March 13, 2024- At Board meeting, Board adopts updated Board Policy 6146.1 adding ethnic studies to requirements.
February 15, 2024 - At Board meeting, first read of updated Board Policy 6146.1 includes a course in ethnic studies commencing with pupils graduating in the 2029-30 school year.

2023

In 2023, SDUHSD worked with local educational partners, including the San Diego County Office of Education, colleges, teachers, and counselors on initial professional learning and instructional exploration. No course or materials had been developed as the work was ongoing with more information to provided as it develops.

To begin Instructional Exploration, in Fall 2023, aligned with the SDCOE Guidance for Local Instructional Materials Adoption (p. 7), SDUHSD convened a committee of educators who:

- have knowledge of the content areas under consideration,

- were a majority of teachers with substantial experience in the classroom and teachers relatively new to the profession

- have knowledge or experience with effective and promising instructional practices

- have expertise with student groups such as EL students and students with disabilities; and

- have knowledge or experience collecting or analyzing data

The committee reviewed information and materials including laws, model curriculum, and potential course models for alignment with the State guidance and standards. The following models were initially considered:

- Model A: Embed in an existing course

- Model B: Embed in multiple courses

- Model C: Standalone half-term Ethnic Studies course

- Model D: Menu of courses

- Model E: Standalone year-long Ethnic Studies course

In reviewing the potential models and planning, staff took into consideration student-focused, logistical, and fiscal aspects of implementation.

Based on this overall review and information gathered as well as the timeline, Model A was the option chosen for an initial course design, as English 9 with Ethnic Studies and English 9 Honors with Ethnic Studies. Students in English 9 or 9 Honors with Ethnic Studies will learn both CA English Language Arts content standards and Ethnic Studies content. The course will fulfill graduation requirements for both English and Ethnic Studies.
This is the initial design in order to implement a course by Fall 2025. In the future, other models may be explored based on student needs to satisfy graduation requirements.

Prior Years

Click to view larger image.

California graduation requirement

CA Assembly Bill 101 amended:

Section 51225.3 of CA Education Code to add Ethnic Studies to the CA Graduation requirements and gave an implementation timeline for Local Educational Agencies to offer a course that fulfills this requirement, as well as ways that a CA pupil may satisfy the requirement.

- This bill adds the completion of a one-semester course in ethnic studies, meeting specified requirements, to the graduation requirements commencing with pupils graduating in the 2029–30 school year, including for pupils enrolled in a charter school.
- Commencing with the 2025–26 school year, a local educational agency, including a charter school, with pupils in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, shall offer at least a one-semester course in ethnic studies.
- The specified requirements are that it must be a least one semester, that Ethnic Studies must be the primary content, and that students must accrue credit for coursework in the subject that the course is offered.

Section 51226.7 of the CA Education Code related to the Instructional Quality Commission developing, and the state board adopting, a model curriculum in ethnic studies to ensure quality courses of study in ethnic studies.

What is the timeline?

- Per the bill, all schools must offer an ethnic studies course commencing with the 2025–26 school year (current 8th grade students).
- The following year it becomes a graduation requirement for the class of 2030, which is students entering grade 9 in 2026-2027 (current 7th grade students).

What content will a course have? The State Board of Education adopted a Model Curriculum. SDUHSD is using the SBE-recommended model curriculum as a guide for professional learning and the development of an initial course offering.

Is Ethnic Studies a requirement to apply to college in California? Currently, the California State University (CSU) and the University of California (UC) have not made Ethnic Studies a requirement for admission. We will continue to monitor college decisions related to this subject area. Any course that SDUHSD develops will be submitted to the UC for approval as fulfilling a-g subject requirements.

SDUHSD implementation of graduation requirement

Planned District Timeline SDUHSD_EthnicStudies_Timeline