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About Us

Explore our values, history and implementation of ethnic studies in SDUSD.

Our Values and Principles

In San Diego Unified School District,
ethnic studies is a content and pedagogy that humanizes and empowers all people.
 

We value Celebrating histories and Centering cultures of marginalized groups, specifically Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities, Cultivating love and self-worth for ALL students, Critiquing and Challenging power and oppression across systemic, interpersonal, and internalized levels, Connecting learning to past and contemporary movements for social justice, Conceptualizing new possibilities of collective hope, healing, and liberation.

We promote the understanding of Self, StoriesSystemsSocial Movements, and Solidarity.

Celebrate

empathy, community actualization, cultural perpetuity, self-worth, self-determination, and the holistic well-being of all participants, especially Native peoples and people of color.

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Cultivate

love and self-worth for ALL students

Celebrating & Centering

cultures of marginalized groups, specifically Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities

Critiquing & Challenging

power and oppression across systemic, interpersonal, and internalized levels

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Connecting

learning to past and contemporary movements for social justice

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Conceptualizing

new possibilities of collective hope, healing, and liberation

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Conceptualizing

new possibilities of collective hope, healing, and liberation

We promote the understanding of...

Self 
The story of racialized, intersectional identities

Stories
The collective narratives of BIPOC communities

Systems

The experiences of BIPOC with systems of power and oppression. 

Social Movements

The resistance and resilience of BIPOC in organizing against injustice

Solidarity

The transformative solidarity among BIPOC communities and allies in reimagining a better world
 

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California Assembly Bill

Read about California’s legislation requiring ethnic studies for all high school students starting with the graduating class of 2030.

History of Ethnic Studies at SDUSD

Read about the ongoing community activism and work that established ethnic studies in SDUSD.

2015

March 23, 2015

SDUSD approved an Ethnic Studies Resolution mandating the creation of the Ethnic Studies Advisory Committee (ESAC)

2016

June 2016

University of California A-G approved "Introduction to Ethnic Studies" 9th grade course

September 13, 2016

University of California A-G approved "Introduction to Ethnic Studies" 9th grade course

2017

Spring 2017

UCSD Ethnic Studies Course Study Evaluation Project began

June 2017

ESAC Bylaws developed and approved

June 2017 - January 2018

ESAC, in collaboration with district leadership, developed a multi-year plan

December 4, 2017

ESAC members visited model Ethnic Studies School District: El Rancho Unified School District

2018

Summer 2018 - Fall 2018

ESAC members visited model Ethnic Studies School District: El Rancho Unified School District

Fall 2018

Five-day Introduction to Ethnic Studies professional development offered

2019

Spring 2019

Began developing Ethnic Studies US History course: "Identity & Agency in US History"

April 2019

SDUSD School Board voted to require one ethnic studies course as a graduation requirement beginning with the graduating class of 2024

August 2019

District Program Manager for Ethnic Studies, History/Social Science hired

Fall 2019

Facing History and Ourselves facilitated five-day professional development for 10th-grade World History

Began developing an Ethnic Studies World History course: "Power & Identity Around the World"

2020

June 23, 2020

Began developing Ethnic Studies US History course: "Identity & Agency in US History"

Summer 2020

All SDUSD teachers and staff provided with an opportunity to take a 90 minute introduction to ethnic studies professional development

September 2020

3 Full-Time Ethnic Studies Resource Teachers and 3 Lead Teachers hired

The CA AB 331, which would require all California's public school students to take a semester-long ethnic studies course as a graduation requirement, was vetoed by Governor Newsom due to issues with the ethnic studies model curriculum. A new California model curriculum is being drafted

2021

January 2021

Completed SDUSD Ethnic Studies Framework

June 2021

SDUSD Board works to expand funding for ethnic studies and amid increasing right-wing attacks

2022

Fall 2022

SDUSD has hired a total of five resource teachers and five lead teachers

SDUSD identifies 13 ethnic studies liaisons at its high schools

Our struggle for ethnic studies continues today.

Check back to see how our story continues to evolve!

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