TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — College Board, an American nonprofit which oversees Advanced Placement courses, has outlined its new framework on for its AP African American studies course.

What You Need To Know

  • College Board unveils the new framework for its AP African American Studies course

  • Gov. Ron DeSantis has been outspoken against the course for some of its teachings, like Queer Theory

Gov. Ron DeSantis recently rejected the nationwide course, saying it pushes a political agenda, something three authors cited in the state’s criticism accused him of doing in return.

College Board claimed they had planned to review the course regardless of DeSantis’ objections to allowing the course to be taught in schools.

DeSantis said his administration rejected the College Board’s AP African American course because “we want education, not indoctrination.” The Florida Department of Education recently told the College Board it would bar the course unless they made changes.

The state claims the course promotes the idea that modern American society oppresses Black people, other minorities and women; includes a chapter on “Black Queer Studies” that the administration finds inappropriate; and uses articles by those who oppose capitalism.

The governor said the course violates legislation dubbed the ‘Stop WOKE Act’ he signed last year. It bars instruction that defines people as oppressed or privileged based on their race. Some writers cited in the course believe modern U.S. society endorses white supremacy while oppressing racial minorities, gays and women.

DeSantis’ stance has sparked debate and rallies. Last week, Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump took to Tallahassee with lawmakers and students in protest, threatening to sue DeSantis.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) also gathered in Orlando over the weekend for a meeting and mentioned possibly suing as well.

“The issue is we have guidelines and standards in Florida. We want education, not indoctrination. If you fall on the side of indoctrination, we’re going to decline. If it’s education, then we will do,” DeSantis said in a press conference from a classroom last week.

“College courses cannot be censored. We think AP courses are an extension of college courses. It’s just that high school students have the option of taking them,” Crump said in a rally in Tallahassee.

The College Board, after a decade of development, is testing the African American Studies course at 60 high schools nationwide. No school or state would be required to offer it after its scheduled rollout.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.