St. Paul, MN- Today, the House Education Finance and Policy Committee discussed Rep. Cedrick Frazier’s legislation to require ethnic studies coursework in K-12 public schools.
“More than a third of students in Minnesota schools are students of color, but Minnesota classrooms have not kept pace with the growing diversity of our student population,” said Rep. Cedrick Frazier (DFL – New Hope). “All students deserve to see themselves in their classrooms– their own cultures, communities, and histories - including in their curriculum.”
“Our students deserve the opportunity to receive a world class education, and that includes well-rounded curriculum with an accurate portrayal of our global history,” said Rep. Jim Davnie (DFL-Minneapolis), chair of the House Education Finance Committee. “More relevant curriculum to students can help close the opportunity gap in Minnesota.”
Under Rep. Frazier’s legislation, “ethnic studies” is defined as “the critical and interdisciplinary study of race, ethnicity, and indigeneity with a focus on the experiences and perspectives of people of color within and beyond the United States. HF 3434 would require ethnic studies to be added to the topics that must be covered in the 3.5 required credits of social studies prior to high school graduation, alongside US history, geography, government and citizenship, world history, and economics. The requirement will apply to students beginning 9th grade in the 2023-24 and later.
“I want to be clear,” Rep. Frazier continued. “Ethnic Studies will help our students understand the world around them. We need Ethnic Studies.”
Recent events involving acts of hate directed toward students of color are in the spotlight. Last month, racist taunts were directed at the Cooper High School girls’ basketball team and the St. Louis Park Boys’ Hockey Team. A racist video targeting a student at Prior Lake High School surfaced in December.
The legislation requires school districts and charter schools to conduct a school needs assessment on ethnic studies with students, parents, and community members to determine their local priorities for course selection and implementation, including schoolwide listening sessions or feedback forums and surveys.
It also establishes an Ethnic Studies Task Force made up of students, parents, teachers, and community members to develop ethnic studies standards, recommend professional learning requirements, recommend resources and materials for school districts and charter schools to use in implementation, and review the model ethnic studies curriculum developed by the Minnesota Department of Education.
Rep. Frazier’s bill is being considered for a larger, Education Finance package.
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