BCSD plans a middle-school ethnic-studies elective

What happened

BCSD is preparing a locally developed ethnic-studies elective for middle and junior-high students and plans to seek a curriculum partner through a public vendor request. Staff named Lincoln Junior High, Curran Middle School and Stern Middle School as possible pilot sites; a winter 2028 soft launch was only a possibility, while 2028–29 was described as more realistic.

Why it matters to families

The planned course would add ethnic-studies instruction featuring local history and community voices before students reach high school. The board received a progress update; it did not approve the vendor, curriculum or launch date at this meeting.

The evidence

Staff reported that the task force was revising the request for a qualified curriculum partner, with publication planned in the coming weeks and a recommended partner potentially returning to the board in January. The team said it hoped to develop a course for middle/junior-high schools; three potential pilot sites were named. Staff characterized winter 2028 as a possible soft launch and 2028–29 as the more realistic start, subject to course development and approvals.

The source