JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Duval County Public Schools said Tuesday it can offer AP Psychology credit to students this year after all.
The course has been a source of controversy because it contains references to LGBTQ+ issues which some thought may be prohibited from being discussed under the Parental Rights in Education Act, commonly referred to as the “Don’t Say Gay” law, which was passed last year.
To be safe, DCPS was going to offer an alternative curriculum.
The Florida Department of Education has since assured school districts the course can be taught in compliance with Florida law.
DCPS said the College Board has assured that every Florida student who takes the course will be allowed to sit for the exam and receive college credit.
High schools in Duval County can now switch back to teaching AP Psychology, but it’s not that simple. It’s up to the school’s principal to decide whether it’ll still be taught.
Some DCPS principals may allow AP Psych to be taught, others may have students continue taking the alternatives in which they were enrolled when the district initially removed the course earlier this month.
Medical professionals are encouraging all Duval County principals to teach AP Psychology in their schools.
Physician Jennifer Cowart says AP Psychology is a critical course for anyone entering the medical field, especially with so much emphasis in today’s society on mental health care.
“So if you have a student who wants to become a counselor or a therapist and work in the mental health field, then this is going to be a very standard course,” Cowart said.
Cowart is hoping all of Duval County principals will decide to have AP Psychology taught at their schools.
There had been confusion over whether the popular AP course would be allowed because it contains questions like this one asking students to, “Describe how sex and gender influence socialization and other aspects of development.”
This question and other foundational content on sexual orientation were feared to be in violation of the state’s Parental Rights in Education bill.
Cowart and other medical professionals say with so much emphasis on mental health in today’s society, conversations surrounding gender identity and sexuality are critical in providing adequate care to the public.
“So restricting that access to at the high school level it’s going to make that pathway harder and more expensive for folks who now have to take those courses at, you know, only after they enter the college level,” Cowart said.
News4JAX reached out to DCPS on Wednesday and it said eight high schools have returned to AP Psychology and one wanted to remain with the International Baccalaureate psychology option.
Students impacted will be given more guidance from their schools this week about what comes next.
With DCPS’s decision on Tuesday, Clay County is the only district in the area still not allowing the course to be taught.