Louisiana’s New Social Studies Standards Would Not Include Critical Race Theory
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In state education Superintendent Cade Brumley said critical race theory 鈥渨as not a component of these standards, nor would any of these standards open the door for any form of indoctrination.鈥�
The social studies standards are guidelines for the content and timeline of what history is taught in public schools. Louisiana鈥檚 social studies standards are supposed to be reviewed and revised every seven years but haven鈥檛 been updated since 2010-2011, meaning the state is three years overdue.
Revisions have been significantly tied to conservative concerns about critical race theory that have swept the country. Its opponents have sought to limit discussions of racism and equality in the classroom setting.
Brumley said he defines critical race theory as teaching in a way that 鈥渆verything must be viewed from the lens of race.鈥�
A team at the Louisiana Department of Education, including Brumley, worked on revising the standards following public feedback. The superintendent called the latest version of the standards 鈥渁 freedom framework.鈥�
鈥淚 feel like these standards represent the desire for freedom in our country,鈥� Brumley said. 鈥淚 think these standards tell the whole and truthful story of our country, but also capture the fact that we live in the greatest country on the face of the earth.鈥�
Louisiana history standards by grade
Here鈥檚 a breakdown of the history standards focus for Louisiana鈥檚 K-8 public school students:
- Kindergarten: 鈥淟ife in my home, school and local community鈥�
- 1st grade: 鈥淟ife in the great state of Louisiana鈥�
- 2nd grade: 鈥淟ife in our great country, the United States of America鈥�
- 3rd grade: 鈥淭he American story: People, places and papers鈥�
- 4th grade: 鈥淭he ancient world鈥�
- 5th grade: 鈥淭he medieval to the early modern world鈥�
- 6th grade: 鈥淭he United States and Louisiana: Beginnings through ratification鈥�
- 7th grade: 鈥淭he United States and Louisiana: The early republic through Reconstruction鈥�
- 8th grade: 鈥淭he United States and Louisiana: Industrial Age through the Modern Era鈥�
History standards for Louisiana public school students in kindergarten through fifth grade will include themes such as 鈥淟ife in our great country, the United States of America鈥� and 鈥渢he ancient world.鈥� Middle school students will concentrate on U.S. and Louisiana history.
Louisiana high school students will learn American history from 1607 to 2008, world history from 1300 to 2010 as well as world geography.
鈥淲hen we鈥檙e talking about the Declaration of Independence (or the Constitution or liberty), that鈥檚 something that we want our students to hear multiple times over their career,鈥� Brumley said. 鈥淭hese are ideas that we want them to hear multiple times over their K-12 experience.鈥�
The next step for the standards involves a review before the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. In December, BESE pushed back its deadline for approving for the second time.
At the time, Brumley told the board the delay was necessary because of the sheer number of public comments the education department received on the proposed standards. Many complained they allowed .
Louisiana K-12 teachers and parents will have another chance to provide feedback on the updated social studies curriculum standards through Feb. 22 .
BESE will vote on the proposal in March. If approved, the standards will be implemented by the 2023-24 school year.
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