The AHA has been following the controversy over the College Board’s revised curriculum framework for Advanced Placement US History. In August, we released a statement in support of the way the College Board’s framework encouraged historical thinking, and in September, Executive Director James Grossman published an OpEd piece in the New York Times emphasizing the importance of historical thinking to active and engaged citizenship. Last week students in Jefferson County Colorado began to walk out of class to protest their School Board’s proposal [PDF] to review the AP Curriculum. The criteria for review state that the curriculum “should not encourage or condone civil disorder, social strife or disregard of the law” and “present positive aspects of the United States and its heritage.”

Yesterday the AHA sent the letter below to the Jefferson County School Board, reiterating the importance of historical thinking to active citizenship and applauding the community engagement displayed by the students.

This post first appeared on AHA Today.