This page lays out my position on ethnic studies at the Sequoia Union High School District.
I support ethnic studies as an elective. I do not support ethnic studies as a graduation requirement. On the board vote that made ethnic studies a local high school graduation requirement at SUHSD, I voted no. Trustee Sathvik Nori voted with me. The motion passed 3 to 2.
Background
Ethnic studies is not a graduation requirement under California state law. The decision to require ethnic studies for graduation at Sequoia Union High School District was a local decision by this board.
By a 3 to 2 vote, the board made ethnic studies a local graduation requirement at SUHSD. Trustee Sathvik Nori and I voted no.
Why I voted no
My position is that ethnic studies should be offered as an elective and should not be a graduation requirement. Two reasons drive that position.
First, every locally-imposed graduation requirement has an opportunity cost. Each student has a finite number of course slots in a four-year high school program. State graduation requirements, district graduation requirements, and the A-G course sequence required for UC and CSU admission together consume most of those slots. Each additional locally-imposed graduation requirement reduces the number of elective slots a student has available to take courses aligned with their interests, their college and career goals, or their accelerated study. The opportunity cost of any graduation requirement is the elective that the student would otherwise have taken.
Second, I believe local graduation requirements should be reserved for content for which the board has clear evidence that completion is essential for every student. The state of California has not made ethnic studies a graduation requirement. I do not believe the local case is strong enough to justify the opportunity cost imposed on every graduating student.
None of this is an argument against ethnic studies as a course. Students who want to take ethnic studies should have ready access to it. The district can support and grow an ethnic studies elective without removing course-selection autonomy from the families that would prefer a different use of the same slot.
What I will continue to advocate for
I will continue to support ethnic studies as an elective and continue to oppose its status as a local graduation requirement. Constituents who want to share their views on this question, or on any district issue, can reach me at rich@costellakirsch.com or email the full board at board@seq.org.