This new educational directive, which may encompass lessons on "resistance" and delve into discussions on "social identities," has been met with both support and criticism.
According to the Daily Caller, the law stipulates that by the 2027 to 2028 academic year, elementary and middle schools must incorporate ethnic studies into their curriculums. High schools, on the other hand, are required to offer a course on the subject starting in the 2026 to 2027 school year. Some districts have already begun implementing these programs. The curriculum is defined as an "interdisciplinary study of race, ethnicity, and indigeneity," with a focus on the "perspectives of people of color" and an analysis of "the ways in which race and racism have been and continue to be social, cultural, and political forces."
August 30, 2024
The Minnesota Department of Education released an academic standard document in 2021 outlining the intended learning outcomes of ethnic studies. These include identifying "the ways power and language construct the social identities of race, religion, geography, ethnicity, and gender" and understanding "the roots of contemporary systems of oppression." The standards, which apply to every year from kindergarten through ninth grade, also introduce children to racial topics such as forms of resistance against systemic power and ways to combat injustices.
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Minnesota Justice Alan Page, in a 2021 press release, expressed his support for the initiative, stating, "For me, this is about justice. Our educational system has systematically failed children of color, Indigenous, disabled, and poor children. It is important that the plan recognizes this failure, and acknowledges that systemic change is needed."
However, the law has not been without its detractors. When it was first introduced, it faced legal challenges and was criticized for its vagueness, particularly a rule requiring teachers to "apply lessons from the past in order to eliminate historical and contemporary injustices," as reported by The Minnesota Star Tribune. Republican Minnesota State Rep. Ron Kresha, an outspoken critic of the bill, stated, "We stand ready to work with the commissioner of Education to draft academic standards that will promote rigor, avoid bringing politics into our classrooms, and respect local control and parental engagement."
The law also mandates the establishment of an Ethnic Studies Working Group to advise the education commission on the law and assist in shaping the curriculum. It allocates $150,000 per year to the state’s Department of Education for an "ethnic studies specialist" to aid schools in developing these programs.
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The St. Paul Public Schools, the state's second-largest school district, adopted a high school program in 2021 that it describes as a "critical and interdisciplinary study of race, ethnicity, and indigeneity with a focus on the experiences and perspectives of people of color." The course encourages students to be "aware of your own bias, power, and privilege" and "resist all systems of oppressive power rooted in racism through collective action and change."
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Despite repeated requests for comment, the Minnesota Education Department and Walz's office have remained silent on the issue. This silence leaves unanswered questions about the future implementation of this law and its potential impact on Minnesota's education system.
