Without state funding, ethnic studies will now be optional in the San Dieguito Union High School District. At a special meeting on Feb. 4, the board unanimously approved the decision to offer incoming freshmen a choice between ninth-grade English or Honors English, with or without an ethnic studies course pilot.
Per Assembly Bill 101 ed in 2021, ethnic studies was supposed to be a graduation requirement for all California students in the class of 2030, who would be entering high school in 2026. Starting with the 2025–26 school year, all districts were required to offer the course following a state framework that provides an opportunity for students to learn about the histories, cultures, struggles and contributions of historically marginalized groups in America. However, it became somewhat of an unfunded mandate when Governor Gavin Newsom’s initial budget proposal in January did not include funding for the course.
With the board’s action, San Dieguito will offer access to the course in the fall as an educational option for students while continuing to refine it and make adjustments.
“As a district, San Dieguito is firmly committed to ethnic studies and the value it brings to each and every student,” said Superintendent Anne Staffieri in a message to families after the special meeting Feb. 4.
Over the last six months, the district went through a “robust and transparent” curriculum development process that included surveys and community and board workshops on each of the course’s four units: identity, history and movement, social movements and equity and systems: progress and barriers. Starting in September, the units were approved by the board one by one with the last approved in December.
As Staffieri noted, there were many differing opinions about the course. Some parents and students shared strong for the lessons on understanding the experiences of different cultures and the acknowledgement of local history, while others shared strong concerns about course content they considered divisive—many were particularly opposed to lessons on social justice and activism.
While the district developed the course to offer next fall, there were always questions about the funding. The governor’s initial budget release last month was the first in a multi-step process that won’t conclude until June. According to Staffieri, San Dieguito won’t know definitively if ethnic studies will be a required offering per AB101 or if the anticipated funding will be received.
“SDUHSD faced a timing challenge as course offerings for the 2025-2026 school year needed to be determined months before the state budget was finalized,” Staffieri told families.
The district allocated about $269,848 toward ethnic studies for 2024-25 and identified $180,719 in the 2025-26 budget for a year-long course pilot, utilizing one-time Learning Recovery Emergency Block Grant funding from the California Department of Education for teacher release periods, course refinement and professional training.
“The approved optional course pilot offering will allow the district to offer the course on a smaller scale initially and gather valuable from students and staff, ensuring it is well prepared to meet the anticipated AB101 requirement for full implementation in subsequent years,” Staffieri said.
