WJUSD Ethnic Studies Requirement All students will complete ten credits within the elective/“g” WJUSD graduation requirement in courses that have been designated as an Ethnic Studies (ES) course. Ethnic studies courses cannot be used to fulfill another “A-F” graduation requirement, nor can they be used to fulfill the American Government and/or Economics “g” graduation requirement.
Allow students to complete ten credits in courses designated as Ethnic Studies.
Give students the opportunity to read, analyze and explain non-fiction and/or fiction sources that represents a variety of cultures within the course framework.
Give students opportunities to study and explain the geographical context of a variety cultures within the course framework.
Give students opportunities to explore and demonstrate cultures using a variety of media in addition to written sources within the course framework.
Give students opportunities to identify their own culture while appreciating the cultural contributions of others.
Give students opportunities to learn, compare and contrast contemporary issues of a variety cultures within the course framework.
Give students opportunities to demonstrate their learning through 21st century skills.
All Ethnic Studies designated courses cannot:
Be used to fulfill another “A-F” graduation requirement, nor can they be used to fulfill the American Government and/or Economics “g” graduation requirement. The course will be designated as an elective/ "g" criteria
(Cabinet directive) Focus on the cultural contributions of a singular nationality.
Proposed Ideas
In order for a course to be designated an Ethnic Studies course it must fulfill One of the following categories.
Category A The course must be a survey class that examines the unique ethnicities and cultures of at least four geographic cultural regions. The course may examine the cultures within the context of their original geographic regions or their contributions within United States history. These regions include: North America/Europe, North American First Peoples, Central and South America, Russia, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia and Australia/Oceania. The class may organize the study of cultures within a specific curricular framework to include but not limited to: anthropology, culinary arts, fashion design, geography, literature, sociology, visual and performing arts.
Category B The course must be an in depth examination of the unique ethnic and cultural contributions of a specific geographic cultural region outside of North America/Europe. The course may examine the culture within the context of their original geographic region or its contribution within United States history. These regions include: Central and South America, Russia, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia and Australia/Oceania. A course that focuses on the cultural contributions of North American First Peoples can also be considered the fulfillment of this category. The class may organize the examination of this culture within a specific curricular framework to include but not limited to: anthropology, culinary arts, fashion design, geography, literature, sociology, visual and performing arts. Additionally, within the course, there must be an examination of the unique cultural contributions of at least four different cultural subgroups within that geographical region.
WJUSD Ethnic Studies RequirementAll students will complete ten credits within the elective/“g” WJUSD graduation requirement in courses that have been designated as an Ethnic Studies (ES) course. Ethnic studies courses cannot be used to fulfill another “A-F” graduation requirement, nor can they be used to fulfill the American Government and/or Economics “g” graduation requirement.
WJUSD Ethnic Studies Course Criteria
Non-negotiable Criteria
All Ethnic Studies designated courses must:
All Ethnic Studies designated courses cannot:
Proposed Ideas
In order for a course to be designated an Ethnic Studies course it must fulfill One of the following categories.
Category A
The course must be a survey class that examines the unique ethnicities and cultures of at least four geographic cultural regions. The course may examine the cultures within the context of their original geographic regions or their contributions within United States history. These regions include: North America/Europe, North American First Peoples, Central and South America, Russia, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia and Australia/Oceania. The class may organize the study of cultures within a specific curricular framework to include but not limited to: anthropology, culinary arts, fashion design, geography, literature, sociology, visual and performing arts.
Category B
The course must be an in depth examination of the unique ethnic and cultural contributions of a specific geographic cultural region outside of North America/Europe. The course may examine the culture within the context of their original geographic region or its contribution within United States history. These regions include: Central and South America, Russia, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia and Australia/Oceania. A course that focuses on the cultural contributions of North American First Peoples can also be considered the fulfillment of this category. The class may organize the examination of this culture within a specific curricular framework to include but not limited to: anthropology, culinary arts, fashion design, geography, literature, sociology, visual and performing arts. Additionally, within the course, there must be an examination of the unique cultural contributions of at least four different cultural subgroups within that geographical region.