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State, Local Officials Meet To Discuss Fate Of Ethnic Studies In Tucson Schools
The new superintendents of Arizona and the Tucson Unified School District met Wednesday to discuss the fate of ethnic studies in the city’s public schools. It has been a controversial issue between the state and school district for several years.
The meeting between TUSD superintendent H.T. Sanchez and state superintendent Diane Douglas was positive and both sides will be working together, a spokesperson for Sanchez said.
Sanchez has said that schools will continue developing ethnic studies courses in accordance with a 2013 federal court order.
Before leaving office, Arizona’s former superintendent John Huppenthal criticized the district’s curriculum saying it violated a 2010 state ban on ethnic studies.
Salvador Gabaldon is the former director of Culturally Relevant Curriculum for the school district.
"It seemed that we had a good working relationship and his announcement did come to me, anyway, as a surprise," Gabaldon said.
Gabaldon said he is hopeful because Douglas has said she believes strongly that a school district should be able to determine specifics in its curriculum.
