San Dieguito Union High School District

English 9 with Ethnic Studies

SDUHSD is offering an optional course of English 9 with Ethnic Studies or English 9 Honors with Ethnic Studies, contingent on sufficient student interest and enrollment at each high school site, to fulfill the English SDUHSD graduation and UC a-g requirement.

Community Updates

2026

January 22, 2026 During the regular Board Meeting, the Board of Trustees approved to continue to list the English 9/9 Honors with Ethnic Studies courses as an optional high school offering to fulfill 10 credts toward the English graduation requirements.
January 9, 2026 - Governor’s initial budget proposal for 2026-27 released providing no indication of appropriating funds for AB 101. As a result, the prior amendment to California graduation requirements (51225.3) did not become operative and Ethnic Studies did not go into effect as a CA graduation requirement for pupils graduating in 2029-30.

2025

August 2025 Optional course pilot offering begins for students who requested English 9/9H with Ethnic Studies for the 25-26 school year

May 2025 - Governor’s revised 2025-2026 budget released
March-May 2025 - Ongoing student enrollment, course selection, staffing, and master schedule set up
February 26, 2025 - The University of California approved pilot courses and SDUHSD shared information on course pilot offerings to district 8th grade families
February 4, 2025 - Special Board Meeting including Ethnic Studies
January 2025 - Governor's initial proposed 2025-2026 budget released

2024

Community Engagement Nights
Sessions for families and the community to participate in SDUHSD’s Ethnic Studies Engagement Plan -

click here for information in English | Spanish | Mandarin

Overview Units 1 - 4

Draft Unit Links updated after Board approval.	Feedback Form Feedback forms close to allow for data review and consideration in preparation for upcoming Board Meetings	Step of the Unit Review and Feedback Cycle
Draft of Unit 1 - Board approved 9/12/ 2024	Ethnic Studies Unit 1 Feedback Survey: Parents/Community - closed	Professional Learning for teachers to support trying on proposed lessons in classrooms Gather student and teacher feedback
Draft of Unit 2 - Board approved 10/17/2024	Ethnic Studies Unit 2 Feedback Survey: Parents/Community - Closed	Professional Learning for teachers to support trying on proposed lessons in classrooms Gather student and teacher feedback
Draft of Unit 3 - Board approved 11/14/2024	Ethnic Studies Unit 3 Feedback Survey: Parents/Community - Closed	Professional Learning for teachers to support trying on proposed lessons in classrooms Gather student and teacher feedback
Draft of Unit 4 - Board approved 12/16/2024	Ethnic Studies Unit 4 Feedback Survey: Parents/Community - Closed	Professional Learning for teachers to support trying on proposed lessons in classrooms Gather student and teacher feedback

UPDATES

December 16, 2024 - As part of the Board meeting, Unit 4 was discussed by the Board of Trustees and approved for related initial professional development and trying on of the lessons in current English 9 and English 9 Honors courses.
November 21, 2024 - Board Study Session on Ethnic Studies for Unit 4.
November 14, 2024 - As part of the Board meeting, Unit 3 was discussed by the Board of Trustees and approved for related initial professional development and trying on of the lessons in current English 9 and English 9 Honors courses.
November 7, 2024 - The 4th Community Engagement Session included SDUHSD Educational Services Department updates, a presentation from the San Diego County Office of Education, and a review of the DRAFT of Unit 4: Social Movements & Equity. Participants had the opportunity to experience mini-lessons led by district English teachers and to engage in feedback conversations, facilitated by NCRC and SDUHSD staff. Parents/families/community members in attendance provided verbal feedback during the event and have the opportunity to provide ongoing written feedback via a survey.
October 17, 2024 - As part of the Board meeting, Unit 2 was discussed by the Board of Trustees and approved for related initial professional development and trying on of the lessons in current English 9 and English 9 Honors courses.
October 30, 2024 - Board Study Session Ethnic Studies held for Unit 3.
October 2024 - The table above, under the Unit review & feedback cycle section, was created to easily display updates.
October 8, 2024 - The 3rd Community Engagement Session included SDUHSD Educational Services Department updates, and a review of the DRAFT of Unit 3: Systems: Progress & Barriers. Participants had the opportunity to experience mini-lessons led by district English teachers and to engage in feedback conversations, facilitated by NCRC and SDUHSD staff. Parents/families/community members in attendance provided verbal feedback during the event and have the opportunity to provide ongoing written feedback via a survey.
October 8, 2024 - Update to Unit 3 Theme and Board Study Session date on the SDUHSD Ethnic Studies Engagement Plan Timeline.
September 26, 2024 - Board Study Session Ethnic Studies held for Unit 2.
September 17, 2024 - The 2nd Community Engagement Session included SDUHSD Educational Services Department updates, Community Listening Circles, and a review of the DRAFT of Unit 2: History of Movement. Participants experienced mini-lessons led by district English teachers and engaged in feedback conversations, facilitated by NCRC and SDUHSD staff. Parents/families/community members in attendance provided verbal feedback during the event and had the opportunity to provide ongoing written feedback via a survey.
September 12, 2024 - As part of the Board meeting, Unit 1 was discussed by the Board of Trustees and approved for related initial professional development and trying on of the lessons in current English 9 and English 9 Honors courses.
August 22, 2024 - The 1st Ethnic Studies Board Study Session was held, focused on review and feedback of the DRAFT of Unit 1: Identity.
August 14, 2024 - The first Ethnic Studies Community Engagement Session was hosted at EWMS and included Community Listening Circles, SDUHSD Educational Services Department updates, and a review of the DRAFT of Unit 1: Identity. Participants had the opportunity to provide written and verbal feedback during the event and via a feedback survey.

June 20, 2024 - an update detailing the SDUHSD Ethnic Studies Engagement Plan was provided to the Board of Trustees.
May 16, 2024 - a presentation was provided to the Board of Trustees and the public. As noted in the slides, the work is ongoing and more information is planned, including in August after summer work.
March 13, 2024 - At Board meeting, Board adopts updated Board Policy 6146.1 adding ethnic studies to requirements.
February 15, 2024 - At Board meeting, first read of updated Board Policy 6146.1 includes a course in ethnic studies commencing with pupils graduating in the 2029-30 school year.

2023

In 2023, SDUHSD worked with local educational partners, including the San Diego County Office of Education, colleges, teachers, and counselors on initial professional learning and instructional exploration. No course or materials had been developed as the work was ongoing with more information to provided as it develops.

To begin Instructional Exploration, in Fall 2023, aligned with the SDCOE Guidance for Local Instructional Materials Adoption (p. 7), SDUHSD convened a committee of educators who:

have knowledge of the content areas under consideration,
were a majority of teachers with substantial experience in the classroom and teachers relatively new to the profession
have knowledge or experience with effective and promising instructional practices
have expertise with student groups such as EL students and students with disabilities; and
have knowledge or experience collecting or analyzing data

The committee reviewed information and materials including laws, model curriculum, and potential course models for alignment with the State guidance and standards. The following models were initially considered:

Model A: Embed in an existing course
Model B: Embed in multiple courses
Model C: Standalone half-term Ethnic Studies course
Model D: Menu of courses
Model E: Standalone year-long Ethnic Studies course

In reviewing the potential models and planning, staff took into consideration multiple aspects of implementation including:

Student-focused - existing student electives, pathways, and requirements; percent of students taking College Board Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate, especially in English and Social Science; grade 9 requirements (no required history class for 9th grade); opportunities for remediation
Logistical - all grade-level courses; semester and 4x4 schedules; facilities; master schedules; credentials
Fiscal - costs of sections, materials, and staffingBased on this overall review and information gathered, as well as the timeline established in the bill,

Based on this overall review and information gathered as well as the timeline established in the bill, Model A was the option chosen for an initial course design, as English 9 with Ethnic Studies and English 9 Honors with Ethnic Studies.

Students in English 9 or 9 Honors with Ethnic Studies will learn both CA English Language Arts content standards and Ethnic Studies content. The course will fulfill graduation requirements for both English and Ethnic Studies.

This is the initial design in order to implement a course by Fall 2025. In the future, other models may be explored based on student needs to satisfy graduation requirements.