Ethnic studies is now part of public education in California — and it is one of the most contested topics in California schools for Jewish families. This guide explains how ethnic studies came to California classrooms, what "liberated ethnic studies" means, and what parents can do to find out what their children are being taught.

How ethnic studies came to California

  • 2016 — AB 2016 directed the state to develop a model ethnic studies curriculum for high schools.
  • 2019 — first draft withdrawn. The initial draft drew widespread criticism, including from Jewish organizations and lawmakers, for one-sided treatment of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and for leaving out antisemitism.
  • 2021 — model curriculum adopted. The State Board of Education approved a revised Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum that included lessons on antisemitism and the Jewish American experience.
  • 2021 — AB 101 made a one-semester ethnic studies course a high school graduation requirement, phased in for later graduating classes and tied to state funding.

Critically, the state model curriculum is optional. Districts may write their own courses or buy materials from outside groups — and that is where most of the controversy now lies.

What is "liberated ethnic studies"?

"Liberated ethnic studies" refers to an approach promoted by the Liberated Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum Consortium and allied activists, many of whom helped write the rejected 2019 draft. Its materials frame the subject through a lens of oppression and resistance and frequently present Zionism as a form of settler colonialism. Critics, including JCAC, argue that this content singles out Israel, erases Jewish identity and history, and creates a hostile environment for Jewish students.

The fight is now in the courts. In September 2026, the Ninth Circuit revived a lawsuit brought by Jewish parents and teachers against the Consortium. Read our analysis: Ninth Circuit Win Revives the Fight Against Liberated Ethnic Studies.

Your rights as a parent

  • You can see the curriculum. California law gives parents the right to inspect instructional materials, and the California Public Records Act lets anyone request district records — lesson plans, slide decks, reading lists, and contracts with outside vendors.
  • Antisemitic curriculum can be illegal. Course content that discriminates against Jewish students can violate state and federal civil-rights law. See Type 7: Antisemitic or Antizionist Curriculum.
  • Withholding curriculum can be illegal too. See Type 8: Withholding Curriculum from Parents.

How to request your district's ethnic studies materials

Use JCAC's free public records request tool. It walks you through drafting a California Public Records Act request for your district's ethnic studies course materials, vendor contracts, and teacher trainings, and lets you track the response.

If your child has experienced antisemitism connected to an ethnic studies class, report it to JCAC. As the Ninth Circuit case shows, documented incidents are what make these cases winnable.

This article is general information, not legal advice.