DC School Board Approves Curriculum Centered on Critical Race Theory

The Washington, D.C., State Board of Education voted unanimously Wednesday to approve a new K-12 social studies curriculum designed to “incorporate the histories and perspectives of historically marginalized groups.”

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The Social Studies Standards Guiding Principles, released in December 2020, directed the school board to develop curriculum materials that are “actively anti-racist, and that explicitly address discrimination against traditionally marginalized groups.” They also state that social studies lessons should “focus on the tenets of critical race theory (CRT) when describing power structures and systems.”

Under the new curriculum, fourth-graders are expected to “evaluate the significance of 1619,” an indication that the curriculum intends to reframe the narrative of American history around racial oppression. {snip}

Seventh-graders are also encouraged to evaluate George Washington’s “legacy as an enslaver” while studying early American history.

When studying World War II, fifth-graders will examine the experiences of “Latinx, Indigenous, [and]  LGBTQ+” servicemen returning home after the war.

The new curriculum will also direct students to “create plans to affect [sic] change.”

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