Florida says AP Psychology will remain as College Board suggests it will withhold ‘AP’ status
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Florida will continue to provide AP Psychology despite the College Board insinuating that the course would not receive an “AP” designation because the state prohibits teachings about gender identity and sexual orientation.
Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. sent a letter to school superintendents Friday “out of an abundance of caution” because of the College Board’s recent statement. The College Board regulates AP courses where high school students can receive college credit.
Diaz said the department believes the course can be taught “in its entirety” in a manner that “is age and developmentally appropriate.”
“College Board has suggested that it might withhold the ‘AP’ designation from from this course in Florida, ultimately hurting Florida students,” Diaz’s letter said.
“I want to be clear, AP Psychology is and will remain in the course code directory making it available to Florida students,” he continued.
The Florida Board of Education voted in April to prohibit instruction on gender and sexual orientation through the 12th Grade, therefore, a portion of the AP Psychology course would need to be modified.
“Any course that censors required course content cannot be labeled ‘AP’ or ‘Advanced Placement,’ and the ‘AP Psychology’ designation cannot be utilized on student transcripts,” the College Board said.
The College Board said it would not modify AP Psychology because it would “censor” college-level standards. For 30 years, the College Board said the framework of gender and sexual orientation have been part of AP Psychology.
“To be clear, any AP Psychology course taught in Florida will violate either Florida law or college requirements,” the College Board said.
The group claimed Florida “effectively banned” AP Psychology. However, the Florida Association of District School Superintendents pushed back on that notion.
“The Florida Department of Education has not banned AP Psychology,” the association said in a press release.
Education department to College Board: ‘Stop playing games’ with AP Psychology course
The association explained that superintendents are communicating with parents about their district’s plan to provide this course or an alternative college level course.
“We hope that College Board will keep the best interests of students at the forefront and award college credit to all Florida students who successfully complete the AP Psychology exam,” the association said.
The Florida Department of Education spokesperson noted Thursday that other course providers such as the International Baccalaureate program “had no issue” providing the college credit psychology course.
