Confusion over a Florida law has led a several schools in the Sunshine State to ban the Advanced Placement Psychology course despite the state's education commissioner clarifying that the course can be taught.

Last week, the College Board, which provides schools with the AP courses that offer students the opportunity to earn college credit in high school, announced that Florida's ban on classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity meant the AP Psychology course was "effectively banned" in the state. The announcement was the latest public feud between state officials, including Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), and the college prep organization.

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"To be clear, any AP Psychology course taught in Florida will violate either Florida law or college requirements," the College Board said in a statement last week. "Therefore, we advise Florida districts not to offer AP Psychology until Florida reverses their decision and allows parents and students to choose to take the full course."

The following day, Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz rejected the College Board's claims and said the course can be taught as structured "in a manner that is age and developmentally appropriate."

But the confusion over the permissibility of the course under Florida law has still led several school districts in the state to look to other sources for a college credit course in psychology.

Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Polk, Hernando, and Manatee county schools have all decided to switch to the Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education course in psychology as a result of the confusion, Axios reported. Other school districts, like in Sarasota, Palm Beach County, and Miami-Dade, have elected to keep the AP version of the course.

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The school districts adopting alternative courses include seven of the 11 school districts with the highest enrollment in the course in previous years, the Washington Post reported. The outlet said 28,000 Florida students took the course in the spring 2023 semester.

The controversy over the AP Psychology course is not the first time the College Board has butted heads with leaders in Florida. The organization and state education officials have been engaged in an ongoing controversy over a piloted AP African American Studies course that Florida officials have said violates state law. The course was banned from Florida high schools. Later, the College Board released updated standards for the course and was accused of caving to the state's demands. The organization later announced it would be revisiting the course standards.