EDUCS32

In April 2022, Florida became the first state in over twenty years to prohibit the teaching of LGBTQIA+ inclusive curricula in schools. Since then, similar bans have been put in place or are expected to follow in Ohio, Tennessee, Kansas, and Indiana. These newcomers join a coterie of states with preexisting restrictions including Texas and Mississippi. By contrast, Connecticut, Nevada, New Jersey, Illinois, Oregon, and Colorado have introduced and in some cases mandated LGBTQIA+-affirming curricula. In this course, students explore the divisive politics of teaching about queer identity, history, and experience in K-12 schools. They familiarize themselves with research on the impact of gender- and sexuality-conscious policy and practice on American youth. The course has a required field placement component in which LGBTQIA+-affirming pedagogy is practiced. Students are expected to develop and demonstrate competency in evidence-based, best practices in working with queer youth.