December 1, 2023: Curriculum Update Available!
Please download and replace your PDF copy of the curriculum with this required update, which includes minor fixes to linked resources. See changelog for details.
Download the Curriculum Here
Updated December 1, 2021
Changelog: What's new in this revision?
In the News: Students, teachers praise Black, Latino studies course in mandate’s first year: ‘This is U.S. history’
In the Hartford Courant, Alison Cross writes, “This school year marks the first time that Connecticut districts were required to offer the course, which 54 high schools piloted during the 2021-2022 year. The full-year history elective covers African American, Black, Puerto Rican and Latino political movements, cultural contributions, struggles and more.” She further interviews a variety of students taking the course, and teachers, administrators, and others involved in the course’s creation.
Request for Proposals (RFP) for the African American/Black and Puerto Rican/Latino Course of Studies Implementation (Round 3)
SERC RFP Number: BLC082022
State Education Resource Center (SERC)
Contact Person: Michelle LeBrun-Griffin (griffin@ctserc.org)
On June 23, 2021, CT PA 21-2 identified SERC as the lead organization for coordination and provision of professional learning and implementation support for CT’s African American/Black and Puerto Rican/Latino Course of Studies.
SERC is seeking competitive proposals from qualified and interested organizations or individuals with proven expertise and experience in external evaluation.
Updated Reference List and Book Bundle Information
June 17, 2022 – Based on book availability and new resource suggestions, a revised Reference List for course has been posted (see below). There is no single text for this course. As noted in each CSDE/SERC Information Session conducted, it is anticipated that Book Bundle items will be purchased by each school and exclusively available to teachers of the course and Social Studies Department. A second set will be provided by SERC (contingent on funding) to be housed in the library of each school for general teacher, student, and community access. Additional copies of Book Bundle items and items in the Supplemental Teacher Resources and Optional Student Resources sections may be purchased based on need and/or at the discretion of each school.
SERC has been able to arrange for centralized purchasing of the Book Bundle items as a complete set with Barnes & Noble. This will allow all schools to receive both the education and quantity discount.
Read the Book Bundle Purchasing Information (below) for more details. Download the revised (6/17/22) Curriculum Reference List below.
“Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2019) (a) For the school year commencing July 1, 2021, and each school year thereafter, each local and regional board of education shall include African-American and black studies and Puerto Rican and Latino studies as part of the curriculum for the school district, pursuant to section 10-16b of the general statutes, as amended by this act.”