Ethnic Studies is a subject that might be taught in your child’s school. It sort of sounds nice, until you realize that it seeks to tear people apart and paints a hideous picture of the United States. Taught in K12 schools from California to Boston, ethnic studies sounds like it would introduce your child to different ethnicities. In reality, it is critical race theory (CRT) by another name.
Boards of education and school districts are approving and adopting curriculum based in Liberated Ethnic Studies, also called Critical Ethnic Studies. The approved curriculum in California lists “critique empire-building in history and its relationship to white supremacy, racism and other forms of power and oppression” as one of its guiding values.
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Ethnic Studies 101
What is Ethnic Studies? Ethnic Studies is a subject that might be taught in your child’s school. It sort of sounds nice, until you realize that it seeks to…
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Understanding Ethnic Studies Jargon
School officials and activists employ an array of new words and phrases to describe their beliefs and goals. If you see and hear these phrases and can’t figure out what…
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Groups Pushing Liberated Ethnic Studies in Schools
(This is preliminary list of the groups currently pushing liberated ethnic studies in K-12 schools. We will add to it as we learn more.)…
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Livestream: Ethnic Studies Explained
On this month’s Parents Defending Education Live, we’ll discuss Ethnic Studies. Ethnic Studies is a subject that might be taught in your child’s school. It sort of sounds nice, until…
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Liberated Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum Consortium
What is Liberated Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum Consortium? Liberated Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum Consortium (LESMC) is an ethnic studies consultant group whose vision is to “promote the advancement and…
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Liberated Ethnic Studies Comes Down the Pike to K-5 Classrooms
In October 2021, Governor Newsom signed California’s ethnic studies mandate for high schools into law. While many school districts are still deciding on the specific curricula contents for their high…
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Ethnic Studies Promote Antisemitism, Bigotry in U.S. Schools
Parents are understandably concerned with the divisive curricula now taught in America’s schools. Ideas like critical race theory and extreme gender ideology often replace the subjects traditionally taught in core…
Commentaries
Opting Out
What does it mean to opt out? Do parents have a right to opt children out of aspects of school? What is the process to opt out? What are my…
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Curriculum Alternatives
Click to find new alternatives to Social Studies, History, Diversity, and SEL…
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Incidents
Ethnic studies course teaches students the ‘theoretical foundations of Critical Race Theory.’
Coachella Valley Unified School District’s ethnic studies course teaches students Critical Race Theory and how to apply it to “understand how race is socially constructed.” Ethnic studies became…
Incidents
Ethnic studies course features poster of Che Guevara on wall, includes content focused on ‘White Supremacy’ and ‘Privilege’
An ethnic studies classroom in the Pasadena Unified School District features a poster of Che Guevara with the words “Hasta La Victoria Siempre,” or “always until victory.” In a…
Incidents
Los Angeles ethnic studies course teaches students to resist ‘white supremacy culture,’ empowers students to become ‘anti-racist leaders’
The Los Angeles Unified School District’s ethnic studies website lists the course outline for “Introduction to Ethnic Studies,” which states that it “centers holistic humanization and critical consciousness,”…
Incidents
District signs $35,395 ethnic studies contract that includes incorporating Critical Race Theory into training
Hayward Unified School District has agreed to a $35,395 one-year contract with ethnic studies consultant Liberated Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum Consortium. The contract states that the consortium’s services…
Incidents
Ethnic Studies & Social Justice Academy curriculum focuses on systems of oppression and student activism, website calls to smash “capitalism” and “white supremacy”
New Haven Unified School District’s Ethnic Studies & Social Justice Academy, which is part of James Logan High School, features a curriculum where students “learn to interweave critical…
Incidents
Seventh and Eighth grade ethnic studies course features ‘Genderbread Person’ activity and unit on ‘Intersectionality’
Long Beach Unified School District’s middle school ethnic studies course description states that students will “understand the politics of privilege and the historical reasons for structural racism, classism and…
Incidents
Boston Public Schools’ ethnic studies curriculum focuses on oppression and ‘Pillars of White Supremacy’
The Boston Public Schools ethnic studies course curriculum features units focused on “Intersectionality,” “4 I’s of Oppression,” “3 Pillars of White Supremacy and Heteropatriarchy,” and “Transformative…
Incidents
Tamalpais Union High School District ethnic studies course teaches students “the tenets of critical race theory” and how to use it to analyze historical and current events
Tamalpais Union High School District’s course for grades 10-12 titled “Ethnic Studies: An Examination of Race in the United States” unit 1 learning goals include that “Students will know…
Incidents
St. Paul Public Schools to add ‘Critical Ethnic Studies’ program, seeks curriculum suggestions related to ‘white supremacy’ and ‘oppression’
St. Paul Public Schools in Minnesota is seeking community feedback for the newest graduation requirement, “Critical Ethnic Studies.” The flyer seeks “submissions” for the course related to the concepts…
Incidents
Stockton Unified School District ethnic studies curriculum focuses on intersectionality, power, oppression and student activism
Stockton Unified School District’s Ethnic Studies program features learning outcomes such as critiquing “empire-building in history and its relationship to white supremacy, racism and other forms of power and…
Incidents
Northshore School District ethnic studies program aims to teach students to critique, resist, and transform ‘systems of oppression’
The Northshore School District started an Ethnic Studies Pilot Work Team in January of 2021. According to the pilot work team website, the team members “will be provided…
Incidents
Santa Ana Unified School District ethnic studies curriculum for 9th graders entirely based in critical race theory and critical gender theory
As part of California’s effort to mandate ethnic studies for all students in Californian schools, the Santa Ana Unified School District has published the curriculum for their 9th grade…
Incidents
Middleton-Cross Plains School District part of consortium that teaches middle and high school students about intersectionality and collectivism; contracted with Controversial Ethnic Studies Consultant for $500 an hour
In 2019, Middleton-Cross Point hosted the MSAN Consortium Student Conference. The conference featured keynote speakers such as Jose Gonzalez and Bettina Love. MSAN Executive Director Madeline Hafner’s…
Incidents
Castro Valley Unified School District approves agreement with Liberated Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum Consortium
On January 19, 2022, the Castro Valley Unified School District school board, in a 5-0 vote, approved an agreement with the Ethnic Studies consulting firm Liberated Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum…
Incidents
Northshore School District uses “Intersectional Diversity Flower” to promote equity; plans to implement “ethnic studies” into curriculum for students
The Northshore School District acknowledges on its website that the district “functions on Coast Salish lands in the areas that have been colonized, occupied, and renamed…
Incidents
New draft of proposed social studies standards in New Mexico raises alarm bells
The state of New Mexico’s Public Education Department is considering new social studies standards and the “ethnic, cultural and identity studies” category has raised red flags for some parents…
Incidents
Beaverton School District promises to review social science curriculum with a “Critical Equity Lens”
The Social Science Project Team will review existing Social Science curriculum and practices to make curriculum adoption recommendations to the School Board. The Project Team is an important part…
Incidents
Ethnic Studies and Ethnic Literature are now on the menu in Poway Unified School District—district officials say it isn’t critical race theory but it sure looks like it is
The unveiling of two new elective courses on racial equality and inclusion are receiving pushback from parents and residents at Poway Unified School District in San Diego County,…
Incidents
Ethnic Studies standards require kindergartners to develop an understanding of their racial, gender and religious identity.
The Oregon state standards in Ethnic Studies will be available for teachers to use in the classroom in September 2021 and will become a mandatory part of the curriculum in…
Incidents
‘Evolve or dissolve’ — Beaverton, Ore., teachers told to accept ‘anti-racism’ teachings or get fired
Here is a video of the closing session. The comments about firing teachers who do not subscribe to this ideology comes at 23:15. Update: 2021 Social Science Standards Integrated…
Incidents
Media
FOX NEWS: Ethnic Studies school administrator argued some Jewish Americans have ‘control of systemic power’
Castro-Gill is now the executive director of the advocacy organization Washington Ethnic Studies Now…
Media
THE BLAZE: Former school administrator claimed Judaism wouldn’t be central topic in ethnic studies program because ‘for the most part’ Jewish Americans have ‘control of systemic power’
Communications obtained by Parents Defending Education revealed that a former ethnic studies school administrator with Seattle Public Schools claimed that Judaism would not be a central topic in the program…
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LOS ANGELES TIMES: Santa Ana Unified readies ethnic studies graduation requirement for next school year
With a hardcover copy of author Angie Thomas’ “The Hate U Give” firmly in hand, Santa Ana English teacher Yuri Lara spoke to parents and students one morning about a…
Media
WASHINGTON EXAMINER: Napa school district offers special ethnic studies guidance for white teachers
A curriculum consultant contracted by a California school district will provide professional development training that includes guidance to white teachers on how to teach ethnic studies, highlighting a nationwide trend…
Media
REDSTATE: California School District Adopts Ethnic Training Sessions for ‘White Teachers and White Students’
A California school district has contracted with a ‘Liberated Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum Consortium‘ training center to provide anti-racism training to teachers and district staff.
Media
TOWNHALL: WA School District Launched an ‘Ethnic Studies’ Program Teaching Students to Resist ‘Systems of Oppression’
The Northshore School District in Washington state launched an ethnic studies program early last year in which an Ethnic Studies Pilot Work Team was offered materials to learn about “transformative…
Media
Parents Defending Education Joins Coalition to Oppose Ethnic Studies Requirement in California Schools
PDE stands alongside a coalition of 27 organizations to oppose AB 101, which would make an ethnic studies course a graduation requirement in all public and charter high schools in…
Press Releases
Investigations
Going Woke at Mostly Minority Lowell High School
In August 2020, the NAACP launched a new education program, the Education and Civil Rights Initiative, in the University of Kentucky’s Department of Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation to…
Case Studies
Community Responsive Education
What is Community Responsive Education? Community Responsive Education was cofounded by three activist academics — Allyson Tintiangco-Cubales, Jeff Duncan-Andrade and Glenda Macatangay — offering…
Consultants
Our Transformation of Education
What is Our Transformation of Education? Academic R. Tolteka Cuauhtin, an activist in promoting ethnic studies curriculum, created the organization Our Transformation of Education. What K-12 work has Our Transformation…
Consultants
Tintiangco-Cubales, Allyson
Who is Allyson Tintiangco-Cubales? In 2014, Allyson Tintiangco-Cubales wrote a book, “Toward an Ethnic Studies Pedagogy: Implications for K-12 Schools from the Research,” in which she argued for the introduction of…
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