Newsom said he vetoed it because the latest draft „still needs revision.“
Several Jewish groups praised California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, for vetoing a bill on Sept.30 that eventually would have required the state’s high school students to take a course on ethnic studies. Newsom explained in his signing statement that he was vetoing the bill, AB 331, because “there is much uncertainty about the appropriate K-12 model curriculum for ethnic studies.” He added that in 2019, he was concerned “that the initial draft of the model curriculum was insufficiently balanced and inclusive and needed to be amended. In my opinion, the latest draft, which is currently out for review, still needs revision.” He concluded his statement by stating that California celebrates diversity and “that should be reflected in our high school curriculum.” AB 331 would have mandated high schools to offer ethnic studies courses starting in the 2025-26 academic year and then, in 2029-30, start to require students to take an ethnic studies course in order to graduate. Several Jewish groups applauded Newsom. “We appreciate Governor Newsom’s insistence on developing balanced and inclusive educational materials for California’s schools, so that all children will confront racism in all its forms, build bridges of interethnic understanding, and see themselves in the curriculum,” American Jewish Committee Los Angeles Regional Director Richard S. Hirschhaut said. “It is worth taking the time to get this right.” The Simon Wiesenthal Center tweeted, “Thank you Governor @GavinNewsom for your courageous and important veto of a controversial and deeply flawed ethnic studies curriculum.
