Over the last few years, Texas, Connecticut, and California have led the way in approving courses in ethnic studies to provide high school students with engaging, culturally relevant instruction. Texas blazed the trail in 2018 when its state board of education approved an elective course in Mexican American studies. Then in April 2020, the board unanimously approved an African American studies course. With legislation signed by Governor Ned Lamont in June 2019, Connecticut became the first state to require all public high schools to offer an elective course in African American, Black, Puerto Rican, and Latino studies. The state board unanimously accepted the curriculum in December 2020. In March, the California State Board of Education approved an ethnic studies model curriculum for school districts considering development of an ethnic studies elective. Intended as a resource, the model offers sample lessons and provides guidance on working within the community to ensure stakeholder input and guidance on teaching a sensitive subject. Certified teachers will teach the elective courses. All three states are providing professional development opportunities for those who will teach the courses. In a year marked by contentious conversations in many states about broadening standards for teaching American history to incorporate more Black and Latino history, the push by these three states to create ethnic studies courses stands out.