AERA responds to suspension of Mexican American studies in Tucson

(Press-News.org) WASHINGTON, February 23, 2012—The Council of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) unanimously issued two resolutions at its February meeting in response to the suspension of the Mexican American Studies program in the Tucson Unified School District No. 1 (TUSD). The resolutions addressed specifically the suspension of such courses and urged also the repeal of Arizona HB2281, which amended the Arizona Revised Statutes Relating to School Curriculum and led to the questioning of such courses.

The action to suspend courses and teaching activities related to Mexican American Studies was taken in January by the Governing Board of the Tucson Unified School District No. 1 when faced with a decision by the Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction to withhold 10 percent of the School District's monthly funds for violating HB2281.

In issuing these resolutions, the AERA Council noted extensive scientific research demonstrating the benefit of diverse educational experiences for minority and majority students.

The resolution addressed to the Governing Board of the Tucson Unified School District No. 1 specifies that nothing about the Arizona statute should preclude the TUSD Board or any other Arizona school board from offering an ethnic studies course with a Mexican immigrant and Mexican American focus. The resolution strongly urges the Governing Board of the Tucson Unified School District No. 1 to design and offer a Mexican American studies course that meets the important educational goals of the course it previously offered. The resolution further offers that AERA, if requested, could recommend scientific experts to provide advice on course design or evaluation.

In a parallel resolution addressed to the Arizona State Legislature, the AERA Council emphasizes the substantial body of research that reveals that such courses improve critical thinking and reduce stereotyping and bias among students. Characterizing the legislation as educationally indefensible, AERA urges the Arizona State Legislature to repeal HB2281.

In taking these actions, the AERA Council reaffirms taking into consideration the substantial body of scientific research that documents the benefits to minority and majority students of educational programming and exposure built on diverse materials and perspectives. The Council urges serving the public interest through fostering rather than retreating from such curriculum.

### The AERA resolutions are attached below.

AERA RESOLUTION REGARDING THE TEACHING OF MEXICAN AMERICAN STUDIES TO THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE TUCSON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 1 ADOPTED FEBRUARY 5, 2012

The American Educational Research Association (AERA) is the nation's leading scientific and scholarly association whose membership is devoted to advancing knowledge about education and to improving teaching and learning through rigorous research and evaluation. Among its approximately 25,000 members are many who have been at the forefront of efforts to improve the performance of minority students and to understand the implications of ethnic studies and similar coursework for both majority and minority students. Reviewing (a) the 2010 Arizona Revised Statutes Relating to School Curriculum as amended by HB2281 regarding the teaching of ethnic studies courses, (b) the December 27, 2011 ruling of an administrative law judge affirming the Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction's ruling that the Mexican American Studies course offered by the Tucson Unified School District No. 1 violated HB2281, (c) the January 6, 2012 order of the Superintendent to withhold 10 percent of the monthly funds of the School District, and (d) accordingly the January 10, 2012 decision of the Governing Board of the Tucson Unified School District No. 1 to suspend courses and teaching activities related to Mexican American Studies, the AERA Council unanimously adopted at its meeting on February 5, 2012 the following resolution directed to the Governing Board:

Whereas:

A fundamental goal of education is to provide students with the knowledge they need to live and work in the 21st century as productive individuals; Educational practices and learning environments must encompass the range of educative experiences integral to providing students with the skills and confidence necessary to achieve this goal; The education research literature encourages educators to identify types of learning experiences that relate to a range of desirable outcomes; Research examining the impact of curricular and co-curricular diversity activities on a variety of outcomes, and on racial bias in particular, has found that diversity initiatives, which include minority-focused ethnic studies courses, reduce bias and can enhance the climate for learning for all students regardless of race or ethnicity; Research indicates that critical thinking skills, including skills that enable individuals to develop their own well-thought-out value commitments and to question dated norms, are effectively fostered by educational practices that are integrative in nature, that challenge students with information and experiences outside their own embedded worldview, and that encourage the application of newly gained knowledge to contemporary problems; and Research has shown that well-designed ethnic studies courses can provide students who take such courses, whether members of a minority group that is the focus of the course, other minority group students, or majority group students, with educational and skills benefits, including a reduction in attitudinal bias, that would not be as effectively achieved, if they were achieved at all, by other types of courses.

Therefore, the Council of the American Educational Research Association concludes:

(1) That ethnic studies courses appropriately designed can serve an invaluable purpose in developing cognitive capacity and social sensitivity in both minority and majority students.

(2) That nothing about the Arizona statute should preclude the Governing Board of the Tucson Unified School District No. 1 or any other Arizona school board from offering an ethnic studies course with a Mexican immigrant and Mexican American focus because, if well designed and fairly evaluated, no such course should run afoul of the restrictions in the recently passed legislation.

Hence, by this resolution, the Council of the American Educational Research Association:

(1) Strongly urges the Governing Board of the Tucson Unified School District No. 1 to design and offer a Mexican American Studies course that meets the important educational goals of the course it previously offered.

Furthermore:

(2) To facilitate the development and justification of such a course or courses, the American Educational Research Association will, upon request, aid the Governing Board of the Tucson Unified School District No. 1 in connecting with experienced Association members who can review proposed curricula, materials, and teaching methods to ensure that they meet the high standards of accuracy and fairness that make for a well-designed course, and with experienced Association members who can aid the Governing Board in evaluating the impact of such courses so that reliable non-anecdotal evidence will be available to ensure positive learning experiences and outcomes.

AERA RESOLUTION REGARDING THE REPEAL OF ARIZONA HB2281 TO THE ARIZONA STATE LEGISLATURE ADOPTED FEBRUARY 5, 2012

The American Educational Research Association (AERA) is the nation's leading scientific and scholarly association whose membership is devoted to advancing knowledge about education and to improving teaching and learning through rigorous research and evaluation. Among its approximately 25,000 members are many who have been at the forefront of efforts to improve the performance of minority students and to understand the implications of ethnic studies and similar coursework for both majority and minority students. Reviewing (a) the 2010 Arizona Revised Statutes Relating to School Curriculum as amended by HB2281 regarding the teaching of ethnic studies courses, (b) the December 27, 2011 ruling of an administrative law judge affirming the Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction's ruling that the Mexican American Studies course offered by the Tucson Unified School District No. 1 violated HB2281, (c) the January 6, 2012 order of the Superintendent to withhold 10 percent of the monthly funds of the School District, and (d) accordingly the January 10, 2012 decision of the Governing Board of the Tucson Unified School District No. 1 to suspend courses and teaching activities related to Mexican American Studies, the AERA Council unanimously adopted at its meeting on February 5, 2012 the following resolution directed to the Arizona State Legislature:

Whereas:

The American Educational Research Association believes that HB2281 infringes on local school board autonomy and threatens the academic freedom of those who teach in and design courses for local school boards;

Whereas:

The American Educational Research Association believes that HB2281 has direct and chilling effects on the First Amendment rights of Arizona's academic administrators, teachers, and students and violates a basic premise of learning that open inquiry supports cognitive growth and educational development; and

Whereas:

A substantial body of research has shown that ethnic studies courses advance important state and national interests, including the production of better informed and more skilled students and the reduction of minority and majority out-group stereotyping and bias,

Therefore, the Council of the American Educational Research Association finds educationally indefensible the passage of HB2281 and urges its immediate repeal by the Arizona State Legislature.

The American Educational Research Association (AERA) is the national interdisciplinary research association for approximately 25,000 scholars who undertake research in education. Founded in 1916, AERA aims to advance knowledge about education, to encourage scholarly inquiry related to education, and to promote the use of research to improve education and serve the public good.

To reach AERA Communications and Outreach, call Lucy Cunningham at (202) 238-3234 or email to lcunningham@aera.net.