Dear GCPS Students, Families, and Staff,  
 
Last week, we announced that Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) would not be able to offer the College Board's Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies course in our schools this year. This decision was made as a direct result of the exclusion of the course from the Georgia Department of Education’s list of state-approved courses. State-approved AP courses award students additional grade point average (GPA) benefits that impact HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarship eligibility. After our announcement, the state provided updated guidance regarding funding, course number assignment, and the flexibility to embed AP African American Studies topics in our Introduction to African American Studies course. The solutions offered provide a path for students to be exposed to the content and rigorous coursework; however, they fall short of addressing our concern that their GPAs would not be calculated the same way as students completing other AP courses in Georgia. 
 
We believe that access to rigorous coursework is beneficial in preparing every student for postsecondary success, and we remain committed to offering advanced course opportunities that represent the diverse interests of our more than 50,000 high school students. Withholding state approval for this AP course sends the message that the contributions and experiences of African Americans are not worthy of academic study at the same level as other approved AP courses.  
 
Team GCPS will continue to advocate for the full approval of the AP African American Studies course statewide. We remain in contact with the State Superintendent and the State Board of Education in hopes that this decision will be reversed. Thank you for your time, understanding, and support.  
 
In partnership and service,  
 
Dr. Calvin J. Watts
Superintendent
Gwinnett County Public Schools