A controversial state law approved in July amid heated debate isn’t likely to affect California classrooms any time soon.
The Fair Education Act adds lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans, as well as people with disabilities, to existing state law that requires the contributions of women and minority groups be taught in California social-science classes. It also prohibits materials that reflect adversely on people because of race, gender, or other characteristics.
The law officially took effect Jan. 1. But the California education department hasn’t laid out a companion curriculum, and state officials say they are leaving it up to districts to determine how to comply.
While some districts are working to design new curricula, many others are simply waiting for the state’s next adoption of new history and social-science textbooks, scheduled for 2015.
The education department has no plans to check that districts are complying with the law until new textbooks are available, said Tom Adams, its director of curriculum frameworks.
