SAN JOSE, CA – On Wednesday, June 17, 2020, the Santa Clara County Board of Education unanimously approved and signed a resolution announcing the commitment to Ethnic Studies curricula in Santa Clara County.
Ethnic Studies curricula provides an interdisciplinary study of differences, and is intended to deepen students’ sense of shared history, the significant contributions of historically underserved populations, and helps our students understand and appreciate the rich histories and cultural contributions of various communities that challenge racial oppression. The Ethnic Studies and Ethnic Studies Programs allow for marginalized voices to reclaim their history, challenge dominant narratives, and allow students to see themselves in the curriculum, thereby contributing to closing both the achievement and opportunity gaps and increasing both graduation and college-going rates.
77% of California’s student population is ethnically diverse and the state has more than 200 spoken languages, which makes it one of the most diverse student populations in the nation. Santa Clara County contributes to the state’s rich and diverse cultural background with 80% of its student population representing a race other than white, making it one of the most diverse metropolitan areas in the country.
The Santa Clara County Board of Education and the County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Mary Ann Dewan, support learning aligned with Ethnic Studies and Civic Engagement. Ethnic Studies and Civic Engagement promote shared objectives to develop students’ critical world view and understanding of their place in the world. Students learn how to use their knowledge of academics and systems to take informed action in order to improve their communities on a local and global scale. These projects are integrated throughout the content standards and are aligned with the key shifts in California’s recently revised History/Social Science Framework.
The Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) acknowledges the importance of social justice and racial equity within the community and in every student’s education. SCCOE is committed to providing excellent educational opportunities to all of our students, without regard to race, gender, ethnicity, national origin, income, sexual orientation, or disability, and is guided by the core values of equity, inclusiveness, and universally high expectations.
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About the Santa Clara County Office of Education
Working collaboratively with school and community partners, the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) is a regional service agency that provides instructional, business, and technology services to the 31 school districts of Santa Clara County. The County Office of Education directly serves students through special education programs, alternative schools, Head Start and State Preschool programs, migrant education, and Opportunity Youth Academy. The SCCOE also provides academic and fiscal oversight and monitoring to districts in addition to the 22 Santa Clara County Board of Education authorized charter schools.
