Ethnic Studies Standards Update

Dear Friends and Allies:

We are reaching out to share important developments on integrating Ethnic Studies into Minnesota’s K-12 Social Studies standards, and to ask you to join us in voicing your support for Ethnic Studies in two critical decision-making processes happening now. Our collective action in the coming days and weeks could influence the educational experiences of an entire generation of Minnesota students. More details on what’s happening are provided below, as well as information on how you can voice your support for Ethnic Studies at this critical time.  

After months of diligent work from many in our community, we are proud to share that the newly released draft of the Social Studies standards for K-12 students in Minnesota includes Ethnic Studies content for the first time in our state’s history. Under this new draft guidance, students throughout our state will have the opportunity to benefit from Ethnic Studies content in their curriculum.

The new Ethnic Studies standards invite students to:

• Explore how identity shapes individual and collective experiences (identity); 
• Delve into how different cultures cultivate and understand knowledge (ways of knowing); and
• Learn about the historical struggles for justice, freedom and liberation, and how they continue to  shape the history of our state and our nation (resistance).

This is an exciting step forward – but the Social Studies standards draft must now go through a formal rulemaking process.  Unfortunately, our progress has been subjected to politically motivated attacks by conservative politicians and organizations. 

We need your voice to support Ethnic Studies! Please join us in taking two specific actions:

1. Please email MDE before December 14 to voice your support for including the history of policing as a “benchmark” within Social Studies. The proposed benchmark invites students to “examine contemporary policing and explore its historical roots in early America.”  More details are provided below on how to submit comments on this issue.

2. Please submit comments before January 14 into the rulemaking process in support of Ethnic Studies content overall. The “how to” chart below includes all the instructions for how to submit public comments into the rulemaking process. Sample comments are also provided. Submitting a comment requires 10 minutes or less to do, and provides critical feedback into this process.

Thank you for joining us in this important and urgent fight.

In solidarity,

The Minnesota Ethnic Studies Coalition

Two Opportunities to Voice Your Support for Ethnic Studies

Two comment periods are currently open that invite public comments on the proposed Social Studies standards. Please join us in voicing your support for Ethnic Studies during these critical public comment periods. Detailed instructions, deadlines, and sample comments are provided below. 

1. How to Submit a Comment to MDE in Support of the “History of Policing” Benchmark (Dec 14 Deadline)

The MN Dept of Education is requesting comments by December 14 on the specific “benchmarks” within the proposed Social Studies standards. One of the proposed benchmarks states that students will “examine contemporary policing and explore its historical roots in early America” (benchmark code 5.5.25.1).  Some have expressed concern or opposition to this benchmark, arguing that a history of policing “doesn’t belong” in the classroom.

We would urge you to submit a comment to MDE in support of this benchmark. Comments are due by December 14. Comments can be submitted to MDE (1) by email to this email address: mde.academic-standards@state.mn.us OR (2) through this MDE survey form (under “Grade 5”).  The comments must reference the specific benchmark code (5.5.25.1) and sample comments are provided below.  

Sample Comments: 

Dear MN Department of Education: I am writing to express my strong support for the history of policing benchmark (5.5.25.1) within the newly proposed Social Studies standards and benchmarks. Optional: insert a personal story/anecdote about why it’s important to you as an educator/community member/teacher/student that students have the opportunity to learn about the history and role of policing in our society.

It is important for all students to learn about fights against injustice in this country – and it is impossible to teach those stories without addressing policing, which continues to be at the center of the fight for racial justice in Minnesota and elsewhere. Our students live in a world in which policing is a central issue in their communities, and they deserve a deeper understanding of policing and the role it has played in our society.  Failure to address this topic would be a disservice to current and future students who deserve the opportunity to grapple with these important issues. I strongly support the history of policing benchmark (5.5.25.1) included in the draft Social Studies standards. 

2. How to Submit a Comment into Rulemaking in Support of Ethnic Studies (Jan 14 Deadline)

Please follow the instructions below to submit a comment in support of Ethnic Studies into the current rulemaking process before the January 14 deadline.

How to Submit a Comment into Rulemaking in Support of Ethnic Studies

Step One:	Go to https://bit.ly/socialstudiespubliccomment
Step Two:	Go to the upper right hand corner of the screen and click on “sign up”
Step Three:	Fill out the sign-up form with the required information (name, email, password)
Step Four:	You will receive a “Welcome” email into the email account you submitted. Follow the instructions in that email to confirm your information.
Step Five:	Return to the public comment page. (Use this website address if needed: https://bit.ly/socialstudiespubliccomment.) Scroll ALL THE WAY DOWN to the bottom of all the comments to find where to submit your comment.
Step Six:	Draft and post your comment! Feel free to use the template comments below if useful.  Again, comments must be submitted by January 14.
Template Comments	I am writing to express my strong support for the inclusion of Ethnic Studies in the proposed Social Studies standards for K-12 students in Minnesota.  Optional: insert a personal story/anecdote about why an inclusive curriculum matters to you as an educator/community member/teacher/student. Minnesota students deserve an education in which they can learn about the histories of all communities, and understand our collective history from a variety of different perspectives.  Ethnic Studies provides students with these tools and knowledge, which will equip them to lead in our increasingly diverse state and our country. Ethnic Studies also ensures that students of color see themselves, their families and their communities reflected in their curriculum, which is proven to contribute to positive student outcomes. Our students’ education should reflect the rich diversity of our state and country. I strongly support the inclusion of Ethnic Studies within the proposed K-12 Social Studies standards.

Thank you for voicing your support for Ethnic Studies!