Parents petition board to pause ethnic-studies revisions, saying community input is lacking

Multiple parents and community members urged the Palo Alto Unified School District Board on May 21 to pause work on ethnic-studies course revisions and to broaden public input.

A representative of the Palo Alto Parent Alliance said a petition signed by more than 1,300 community members asks the board to halt the current revision process until it ensures transparency and compliance with district policies that require community involvement. "We urge you to pause the changes being made to the ethnic studies course," the speaker said, adding that the state model curriculum emphasizes transparency and stakeholder inclusion.

Robin Morris told the board she attended public sessions and concluded the district's draft centers on a ‘liberated’ ethnic-studies approach that stresses oppression, power and resistance, rather than what she described as the state’s inclusive model emphasizing multiple groups’ histories and contributions. "This is not inclusive ethnic studies. This is liberated ethnic studies," she said.

Other commenters said the district’s consultant (identified in public remarks as UC Berkeley program staff) cited materials associated with liberated‑approach groups and urged the board to involve the community in choosing consultants and curricular resources. Commenters requested a pause in the rollout scheduled for a fall pilot and asked the board to develop board‑mandated standards before implementation.

Board response: Trustees acknowledged the concerns and said they would continue community engagement; the board did not adopt a formal pause during the meeting and asked staff to continue outreach and provide additional information about the consultant materials and the revision timeline.

What’s next: Commenters asked for a formal pause and more public review; the record shows the district will continue public engagement and that the board’s equity and oversight committee will have upcoming meetings where the SWIFT and related curricular matters will be discussed.