Placentia-Yorba Linda schools superintendent's statement: Nothing will change after trustees adopt critical race theory ban on a 3 to 2 vote

 

Despite the recently adopted ban on teaching critical race theory at the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District's 34 campuses, academic content standards, curriculum and materials will remain the same when some 24,000 students return to classrooms on Aug. 30.

The ban, approved on a 3-2 vote by the district 's trustees at an April 5 meeting, is the subject of a statement issued by Superintendent Jim Elsasser May 6. The board resolution states the district “will not include critical race theory as a framework in any course offerings.”

According to Elsasser's 717-word statement, “It is important to know that our district has not adopted any curriculum inclusive of (critical race theory) and was not considering doing so.”

The resolution uses the definition of critical race theory from the California Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum, which, in part, “acknowledges that racism is embedded within systems and institutions that replicate racial inequality – codified in law, embedded in structures and woven into public policy.”

Elsasser states the board's ban “does not change the district's ability to align our curriculum and instruction with the California Department of Education's. . .content standards. All of our adopted curriculum, including district-approved textbooks, novels and other instructional materials, will continue to be utilized by our students.”

And, Elsasser adds, “Enrichment and reference materials will also continue to be utilized to facilitate instruction.” The topics included in the history-social science content standards will continue to be taught, he says.

“Nothing will change with regards to the teaching of history at any grade level. Educators will continue to utilize the district's adopted curriculum and adhere to the state content standards,” Elsasser states.

Elsasser notes critical race theory “is not synonymous with ethnic and multicultural studies.” The district “embraces diversity, understands the critical importance of respecting others and recognizes the benefit of celebrating individual differences....”

Also, regarding Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education curriculum, the ban “will not inhibit our ability to continue to offer such courses and content,” Elsasser says.

The board ban “will not alter the existing content currently taught in these courses so as to not jeopardize the integrity of the coursework and risk losing certification,” Elsasser states.

* * *

Security cameras will be installed at the five middle school (Bernando Yorba, Kraemer, Tuffree, Valadez and Yorba Linda) and the Travis Ranch K-8 sites this summer, stated Assistant Superintendent Richard McAlindin.

Cameras will focus on building entrances, parking lots, lunch areas, hallways and front offices and not private areas. Cameras have been utilized at high schools since 2018.