What Is Ethnic Studies in High School?

Educators are debating whether to require ethnic studies courses in high school. California is poised to make it the first state to mandate ethnic studies courses. But what is ethnic studies and how does it benefit students? In this article, we will explore the course content, requirements, and impact on graduation rates. Then, we’ll discuss the future of this subject in education. Hopefully, this will spur more debate.

Course content

Ethnic studies, or ES, has gained more public attention recently, largely due to the recent riots in Ferguson, Missouri. While proponents of the subject claim positive effects on academic outcomes and social justice, ES teachers aren’t alone in their quest to make ES more inclusive. Some states are currently debating legislation to ban ES and the use of critical race theory in the classroom.

Benefits to students

Ethnic studies in high school has been proven to improve students’ academic performance, especially for English-language learners and those from low-income families. Students who engage in this curriculum have shown an increase in their overall grade-point average and attendance rates. This increases their motivation to attend class and earn course credits, which ultimately leads to higher graduation rates. It also increases their sense of cultural competency. Here are some of the many benefits of ethnic studies in high school:

Requirements for courses

California’s State Board of Education recently approved model ethnic studies curriculum guidelines for high schools. These guidelines help teachers create courses that emphasize the contributions and struggles of historically underrepresented groups. However, the guidelines are not binding and are only intended to provide an example of the type of coursework districts can create. After reviewing the guidelines, districts can then formulate their own curriculum. This article examines the challenges faced by educators who want to offer ethnic studies courses.

Impact on graduation rates

The Dee-Penner-Bonilla study, for example, found that an ethnic studies course improved ninth grade attendance by 21 percent, the GPA of ninth graders increased by 1.4 points, and students earning more than two credits per year increased by 23 percent. This translates to an increase in high school graduation rates by 16 to 19 percentage points. While the impact of ethnic studies may not be immediately obvious, the results are nonetheless important.

Impact on attendance

The Impact of Ethnic Studies in High School on Attendance: Research conducted at Stanford University found that ethnic studies curriculum improved the attendance rate of ninth graders by one day every two weeks. The researchers attributed this increase in attendance to the curriculum’s multicultural content, which included the study of stereotypes, discrimination, and social justice movements. Students who took ethnic studies courses earned an average of 23 additional credits toward graduation. The gains were greatest for boys, particularly in math and science courses.