Okla. Lawmakers Take Issue With AP US History Course

Oklahoma lawmakers are taking aim at Advanced Placement courses—specifically, AP US history, which they say doesn't support the idea of American exceptionalism. The course, says Republican state Rep. Dan Fisher, focuses on "what is bad about America," the Tulsa World reports. He put forward a bill requiring the state to review the college-credit-granting course and prevent the use of state funds to support it; the measure also calls for Oklahoma to come up with a new US history curriculum it would offer in lieu of the AP version, Talking Points Memo reports. The bill passed the state House Common Education Committee 11-4 Monday along party lines, with Republicans backing it and Democrats opposing it.

In rejecting Common Core standards, Oklahoma last year passed a law ensuring only the state could control curriculum. Some lawmakers raised concerns that AP courses may be seen as a way to set a national curriculum, and Rep. Sally Kern has asked the state attorney general to look into the legality of AP courses in general. The Tulsa World points out AP courses are created by the private College Board and aren't required in schools. The College Board's take: A rep said lawmakers' concerns were "mythology and not true," noting that teachers are granted a great deal of control over the material. Republican opposition to the course has expanded following a revision made in 2012, TPM notes, with the Republican National Committee in August saying the course offers a "consistently negative view of American history." (More Oklahoma stories.)