Ethnic studies classes will look a lot different in San Francisco high schools this fall, with the district ditching its homegrown and controversial curriculum for off-the-shelf content that teachers will be expected to follow closely.
The shift announced Monday followed significant pushback in recent months regarding the required high school course, with parents, politicians and conservative activists arguing the curriculum was divisive, antisemitic and promoted progressive activism, among other concerns raised.
The change leaves little time for the San Francisco Unified School District to select a new curriculum, purchase it and get ethnic studies teachers — who are on summer break — up to speed on the content before school starts on Aug. 18. Officials said they plan to source the coursework from a national educational provider whose material is already being used elsewhere in California…