Phil Murphy, governor of New Jersey, speaks on Jan. 10. Photo: Aristide Economopoulos/Bloomberg via Getty Images
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) announced Tuesday that the state is expanding its Advanced Placement African American Studies classes.
Details: The AP class will go from being taught at one New Jersey high school to 26 during the 2023-2024 academic year.
- The AP African American studies course is currently in a two-year pilot program in 60 high schools nationwide, with plans to expand it to hundreds more schools in the fall.
The big picture: New Jersey's expansion contrasts Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' (R) ongoing feud with the College Board over the new course, which he claims teaches critical race theory, a college-level framework that's often conflated with general teachings on systemic racism.
What they're saying: "As governors like Florida’s Ron DeSantis prioritize political culture wars ahead of academic success, New Jersey will proudly teach our kids that Black History is American History," Murphy said in a statement.
- "While the DeSantis Administration stated that AP African American Studies ‘significantly lacks educational value’, New Jersey will stand on the side of teaching our full history," he added.
- DeSantis' office did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.
Go deeper: Here are some key cuts from the AP African American Studies curriculum