MARCH NEWSLETTER

Student Strength Shines to Stop Minnesota’s HF29!

HF29 was introduced in Minnesota to remove Ethnic Studies from the standards and would roll back social studies standards to the 2012 standards. Our coalition member, the Minnesota Ethnic Studies Coalition, along with countless students, parents, families, educators, and community members have fought tirelessly over the years to fight for Ethnic Studies in the state.

The Minnesota House Education Finance Committee met on February 27, 2025 for HF29. Nearly 40 students, educators, and administrators showed up to protect Ethnic Studies! The motion did not prevail with 10 Yes and 12 No!

As of now, HF29 will not move to the house floor but it may be included during negotiations in May. Additionally, there is no companion bill in the Senate.

The Minnesota Ethnic Studies Coalition is still welcoming people to their Policy Committee. Message them to join today on Instagram: @mnethnicstudies

Help Us Fully Adopt American Indian

& Native Studies in Texas!

Help us fully adopt American Indian & Native Studies in Texas!

The fight to institutionalize a full adoption of the American Indian & Native Studies (AI/NS) course in Texas public schools continues on! Though currently offered as a pilot course in Grand Prairie, the AI/NS Innovative course is up for renewal at the end of this academic year. The course renewal would renew the existing course that has already been approved and make it available to teach for the next five years across Texas.

We are calling on all Texas residents to email Chair Kinsey as soon as possible. If you live in Chair Kinsey's District (15), we especially encourage you to contact him.

NO to California’s AB 1468!

AB 1468 is a problematic and racist bill that seeks to undermine Ethnic Studies in California by proposing profound structural changes that are only directed at the fields of Ethnic Studies and no other academic area. It aims to remove local control from school districts and their communities while opening the door to increased censorship and broader right-wing attacks on education.  

Emanating from the predominately white leadership of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus with support from zionist organizations like The Jewish Public Affairs Committee (JPAC), this bill seeks to reduce the expertise of Ethnic Studies scholars and practitioners and control the narrative about what is and is not Ethnic Studies, including the exclusion of global issues like the genocide in Palestine. Read more about the bill here and take action today by emailing California elected today’s to vote NO on AB 1468.

Santa Ana School District Caves to

Anti-Palestinian Racism

CLES strongly opposes the actions of the Santa Ana (CA) school board, which bowed to the demands of Zionist lawyers, eviscerating their robust and community-supported Ethnic Studies program.

“We’re Going to Do Right By Our Young People:”

An Interview with Jenine, Our New CLES Coordinator

Get to know our new CLES national coordinator, and see how she views the challenges and possibilities facing us.

“We are Ethnic Studies educators, so we know more than most how this moment is connected to history and how it's grounded in time and space. I think it's easy to lose sight of that. There’s an intentional strategy for us to be thrown into confusion and chaos, so that we don't galvanize and organize and really understand what's going on.” - Jenine, CLES Coordinator

Chicanx-Palestine Solidarity:

The Movement for Ethnic Studies in California

CLES leaders Sean Arce, Anita Fernández, Theresa Montaño, and Guadalupupe Carrasco Cardona trace the history of Chicanx solidarity with Palestine back to the 1960s, expose the current attacks on including Palestine in Ethnic Studies, and describe what solidarity looks like now in the latest Ethnic Studies Pedagogy journal.

Support Trans Youth

Trans youth are in the crosshairs of the Trump administration. We’re all trying to understand how best to protect them, uplift their voices, and ensure that their needs are met. A few recent articles worth the read:

• “How Healthcare Workers are Defending Their Transgender Patients from Trump’s Attacks”  (Workday Magazine)

• “’We’re Living Through Hell’: What Trump’s Anti-Trans War Really Means” (The Nation)

• “Legal Clash Looms as Minnesota Rebuffs Federal Restrictions on Transgender Athletes” (WARE11)

Teaching Palestine: Lessons, Stories, Voices

A new and invaluable resource from Rethinking Schools for K-12 teachers who want to bring Palestine into their classrooms. According to scholar-activist Robin D. G. Kelley, “this is a text that can correct lies, open minds, and possibly save lives.”

We Keep Us Safe: Free Resources For Families

Impacted by Deportation

Check out these beautiful free posters by Muslims For Just Futures, available in multiple languages. Posters include a script and a general national number to report raids and seek support.

Make sure to also equip yourself with free downloadable Red Cards from the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, available in multiple languages. The wallet sized cards help you stay ready in case you encounter ICE.

First-Ever Ethnic Studies Teacher Residency Program

Launches in San Francisco

In partnership with the SF Urban Teacher Residency, San Francisco State University, and San Francisco Unified School District. Read more details here.

Support the Liberated Ethnic Studies Movement:

Purchase Your Swag Today!

From hoodies and t-shirts to journals and mugs, help us continue our 99% volunteer-ran coalition by purchasing your CLES swag today!