The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported on Wednesday  that Republican Georgia School Superintendent Richard Woods will include AP African American Studies in the state catalog, assuring it will earn state funding and students who take it will qualify for a grade-point average boost in their HOPE Scholarship calculation.

His stand that the course violated the state’s 2022 divisive concepts law had met with widespread criticism and the pressure on him to reverse his decision was mounting.  Georgia Governor Brian Kemp was one of many lawmakers – Republican and Democrat – that urged the state school superintendent to reverse course on his decision.

Woods initially relented by saying he would allow local school districts to make the decision, but yesterday Woods announced the course will be offered as a AP course statewide.

You can read Supt. Woods Statement below:

Over the past several weeks, I have sought guidance and clarity regarding the extent to which Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and dual enrollment courses within the K-12 school system intersect with O.C.G.A. § 20-1-11, the divisive concepts legislation.

Late yesterday afternoon, the sponsor of this legislation shared with my office a response letter he received from the Attorney General’s Office. This communication from the Attorney General’s Office completed the clarification process surrounding the adoption and instructional expectation for all AP, IB, and dual enrollment courses and curriculum. It has been determined that this law shall not restrict local school systems from adopting any AP, IB, or dual enrollment course. Each such course will be exempted from the provisions of the divisive concepts legislation, so long as these courses are implemented “in a professionally and academically appropriate manner and without espousing personal political beliefs.”

Thus, any such course developed by its controlling entity will be automatically adopted within the state-approved course catalog. It will not have to receive a recommendation from either the State School Superintendent of Georgia or the Georgia State Board of Education. It will also not require a vote to approve or deny adoption into the state-approved course catalog.

As I have said, I will follow the law. In compliance with this opinion, the AP African American Studies course will be added to the state-funded course catalog effective immediately.