What AB 101 does
Signed on October 8, 2021, AB 101 amended the California Education Code to require every public high school (including charter schools that issue diplomas) to offer at least a one-semester course in ethnic studies beginning in the 2025–26 school year. Completion of the course becomes a graduation requirement starting with the class of 2029–30.
The statute defines ethnic studies as the "interdisciplinary study of race, ethnicity, and indigeneity" with an emphasis on the experiences of four groups: African Americans, Chicano/Latino Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans.
The Model Curriculum vs. what your district actually teaches
California's Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum (ESMC) was adopted by the State Board of Education in March 2021 after four public drafts and heavy revision. Explicitly removed during that process were the frameworks associated with Liberated Ethnic Studies, which treat capitalism, Zionism, and Western civilization as systems of oppression to be dismantled through classroom activism.
Districts are not required to use the ESMC. Many adopt outside vendors, consultants, or the removed "liberated" materials directly — often without a public board vote on the specific content. This is where most of the legal risk lives.
What parents are entitled to see
Under Education Code § 49091.14, curriculum — including textbook lists and supplementary materials — must be available for parent inspection. That includes:
- The course syllabus and pacing guide
- Slide decks, handouts, and worksheets
- Any third-party curriculum (vendor, consultant, nonprofit)
- Guest speaker names and affiliations
- Assigned readings, videos, and outside links
If a district refuses or slow-walks the request, that itself is documentation worth preserving.
Where the line is
An ethnic studies course that teaches the history, contributions, and experiences of America's racial and ethnic groups is lawful and can be genuinely valuable. A course that stereotypes students by race, assigns collective guilt or virtue based on skin color, or substitutes political activism assignments for academic work crosses into territory prohibited by California and federal civil-rights law.
Frequently asked questions
Is ethnic studies required in California?
Yes. Under Assembly Bill 101 (AB 101), signed into law in 2021, California high school students entering 9th grade in 2025–26 must complete a one-semester ethnic studies course, and beginning with the graduating class of 2029–30 the course is a condition of receiving a diploma. The requirement applies to public schools and charter schools that issue diplomas.
When did ethnic studies become a requirement in California?
AB 101 was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on October 8, 2021. Districts must offer the course starting in the 2025–26 school year, and graduation eligibility ties to it beginning with the 2029–30 class.
What is the California Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum?
It is a state-approved framework published by the California Department of Education in March 2021 after multiple revisions. Districts are not required to adopt the model curriculum verbatim — they may write or purchase their own materials — but many use it as a starting point, and some adopt outside curricula (including so-called 'liberated' versions) that were explicitly removed from the state framework during the drafting process.
Can parents review the ethnic studies curriculum before it is taught?
Yes. California Education Code § 49091.14 requires that curriculum, including a list of textbooks and supplementary materials, be available for inspection by parents. You may request the specific syllabus, slide decks, handouts, and any third-party materials being used in your child's classroom.
Can my child opt out of ethnic studies in California?
AB 101 does not include a statewide opt-out. However, individual lessons or assignments that conflict with a family's religious or moral beliefs may be subject to opt-out under other Education Code provisions, and materials that discriminate against students on the basis of race may violate state and federal civil-rights law. See our dedicated guide on opting out for details.