AP pysch ban

March/April2022

AP Psychology pulled from school catalogs but then reinstated soon after

FLDOE asks College Board to revise the AP Psychology curriculum

Florida legislature sets aside funding for a rival AP program

AP African American studies rejected

June 2023

Jan 2023

Aug 2023

April 2023

Desantis signs the "Don't Say Gay" bill and "Stop WOKE Act"

A BREAKDOWN OF

Desantis v. College Board

Late May, the FLDOE sent College Board a letter requesting that they modify their courses to avoid topics on gender identity and sexual orientation. College Board released a statement mid-June declining to change the AP Psychology curriculum to conform to Florida's new laws. They stated that any AP Psychology class that didn't teach the course in its entirety wasn't fit to be called AP.

On the week of April 25, Florida legistlature agreed on a budget of $2.5 million to jumpstart a Florida-based AP program. There was also increasing talk of replacing ACT and SAT tests with alternatives like the Classical Learning Test. Many have seen these moves as an indication that Desantis is trying to distance hmself away from the College Board and towards programs more in line with his agenda.

On March 28, 2022, HB 1557, more commonly referred to as the "Don't Say Gay" bill, was signed. The law prohibits classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity from kindergarten to third grade, or in any manner deemed illegal in all grades. A month later, on April 22, Desantis signed the "Stop WOKE Act", which restricts race discussions in schools, universities, and workplaces. The act blocks diversity training and prohibits any teaching that makes students feel personally guilty for historic wrongs of their race, sex, or national origin.

Learn more about how these laws impacted Hagerty personally

In a Jan. 12 letter, the Florida Deparment of Education rejected the AP African American Studies curriculum, citing state law violations and an overall "lack of educational value". Although not explicitly stated, many believe the "Stop WOKE Act" was to blame for the FLDOE's harsh denouncement of the pilot-phase curriculum. College Board released an updated course framework in February the same year, noticeably removing some of the concepts Desantis had specific issues with. Many critics accused College Board of bending to Republican interests.

Learn more about Florida's rejection of AP African American studies.

On Aug. 3, College Board announced that the FLDOE had effectively banned the AP Psychology course by making instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity illegal. They stated that Florida school districts should no longer offer AP Psychology courses until Florida reverses its position and allows the course to be taught in its entirety. Since Aug. 9, the FLDOE has insisted AP Psychology can be taught without violating state law. SCPS officially reinstated AP Psychology as a course offering on Aug. 15.