In a reversal, Georgia now says districts can use state funding to teach AP Black studies classes

ATLANTA — Georgia state Superintendent Richard Woods said Wednesday that the state will pay for districts to teach a new Advanced Placement course in African American Studies, a day after he said districts could only teach the course using local funds. In a reversal, Georgia now says districts can use state funding to teach AP Black studies classes In the face of blossoming outrage, the Georgia Department of Education now says districts are free to teach the course and the state will pay for it as long as districts use a code linked to an existing state-approved course in African American studies. Woods hasn't explained his refusal in any depth, saying only in a Wednesday statement that “I had concerns about the state endorsing the totality of the course.” Stan DeJarnett, chair of the State Board of Education, said in a statement that “No one is preventing any school system in Georgia from offering this course if they choose to do so,” echoing the department's current position that districts can use state money even if the state isn't listing the course in its catalog. Gwinnett County spokesperson Bernard Watson said the situation was “evolving.” While that district, the state's largest, didn't reverse its decision to cancel the classes at six high schools, Watson said Gwinnett County is working with state officials “to explore its options for this course.” This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.