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January 25, 2023

Florida Rejects New African American Studies Course; Manatee County Teachers Cover Books After New Ban
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In Florida, racial justice advocates and educators have vowed to fight
the blocking of a proposed new advanced placement course on African
American studies. Republican Governor Ron De Santis on Monday said he
supports Florida's Education Department after it claimed the class
violated state law and pushed a "political agenda" by teaching high
school students about the Black Lives Matter movement, Black queer
studies, slavery and reparations, and other topics centering Black
historical figures and events.

Meanwhile, teachers in Manatee County, Florida, have taken to covering
up or removing books from their class libraries after a new law
prohibiting classroom material that hasn't been vetted and approved by
so-called certified media specialists went into effect. Teachers found
in violation of these guidelines face felony charges.


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