Ethnic Studies Overview

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Ethnic Studies
The following Ethnic Studies Summits and Workshops support the implementation of the Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum using RCOE's conceptual view of Ethnic Studies as an academic discipline.
EventDate/Time
12/04/2024 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
01/09/2025 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
01/29/2025 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM

CA State Assembly Bill 101 requires students in the graduating class of the 2029-2030, to complete a one-semester Ethnic Studies course as part of their high school graduation criteria.

CA State Assembly Bill 2016 states the Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum (ESMC) will be used as a guide, not a mandate, for use within district instructional programs.


  • Ethnic studies is an interdisciplinary field of study that encompasses many subject areas including history, literature, economics, sociology, anthropology, and political science. It emerged to both address content considered missing from traditional curriculum and to encourage critical engagement.
  • Ethnic studies provides students with crucial interpersonal communication strategies, cultural competency, equity-driven skills (such as how to effectively listen to others, give people in need a voice, use shared power, be able to empathize, select relevant/effective change strategies, get feedback from those they are trying to help, deliberate, organize, and build coalitions), and positive ways of expressing collective and collaborative power that are integral to effective and responsive civic engagement and collegiality, especially in a society that is rapidly diversifying.1

ESMC Ethnic Studies Entry Points

The Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum recommends designing courses for students around the following entry points.2

4 Disciplines
4 Approaches (Courses)
4 Themes
8 Outcomes

RCOE Ethnic Studies Points of Entry

Each one of the recommended ESMC entry points (above) can be critically analyzed, explored, and connected to these six overarching domains:

RCOE Encompassing Domains

Scholarship
World View
Humanity
Culture
Contributions
Mutual Respect

RCOE Ethnic Studies / Equity Definition

Ethnic Studies (ES) is not identical to Equity and Inclusion

  • ES is an academic discipline involving research, analysis, exploration, scholarship, and the integration of its work into interdisciplinary studies.

  • ES addresses the topics, events, history, phenomena, and their interconnections between overarching domains and themes, and applications.

  • ES analyzes the origins, identities, narratives, barriers, and accomplishments of ethnic groups in context of race, ethnicity, and indigeneity in the United States and world history.

  • ES seeks to provide meaning, understanding, and accuracy in contemporary social movements by including the described relationships, experiences, and contributions of ethnic groups of people in the United States.

RCOE Ethnic Studies Instructional Schema

Macro-Level
Meso-Level
Micro-Level
Applied-Level

1. California Department of Education. (2022). Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum. pp. 9 - 10.

2. CA Department of Education. (2022). Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum.

3. Sparks, S. (2024, February, 20). Introduction to ethnic studies: Stanford pre-collegiate studies. YouTube.

4. Zacharias, R. (2008). The end of reason. Zondervan Publishing, Inc.

5. Karenga, M. (1982). Introduction to black studies, (1st ed.). Kawaida Publications.

6. Karenga, M. (2009, June, 15). Interview with Dr. Maulana Karenga. YouTube.

7. Karenga, M. (2009, June, 15). Interview with Dr. Maulana Karenga. YouTube.

8. Gavin, M. (2014, November, 07). Why cultural diversity matters. TEDxTalks, YouTube. 

9. Levinson, M. (2014). No citizen left behind. Harvard University Press.

10. Karenga, M. (2009, June, 15). Interview with Dr. Maulana Karenga. YouTube.