K-12 curriculum, particularly the teaching of American history and ethnic studies, has taken center stage in political debates, on school boards, and within state legislatures in recent years. These disputes are unfolding quite differently across western states and locales. In Texas, for example, legislators passed SB3 at the end of 2021, designed to keep “critical race theory” out of Texas classrooms. At the same time, California lawmakers approved requiring an ethnic studies course for high school graduation. How do and how will these divergent approaches shape the study of race, ethnicity, and the past?

Moderated by Dean Pedro Noguera of USC Rossier School of Education, education advocate Dr. James Whitfield and political scientist Dr. Jeffrey Sachs will discuss these contentious political and pedagogical issues and climates and help us think about how we might move forward from here.