Tucson district board approves cultural courses

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - The Tucson Unified School District Governing Board is reversing itself with a decision to provide so-called "culturally relevant" courses for core credit beginning next school year.

The Arizona Daily Star reports that the courses would focus on experiences, culture and history of Mexican-Americans and African-Americans.

The governing board had objected to offering the courses as part of anti-desegregation plan.

However, the board reversed its position in a 3-2 Tuesday as two newly elected board members supported the change.

The district previously eliminated Mexican-American Studies courses after state officials ruled that the courses' content violated a law against curriculum that engendered racial or ethnic disharmony.

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