Board approves 2026–27 course-description books with fee and program updates

The Gilbert Unified District Governing Board approved revisions to the 2026–27 course-description books for junior high and high school, adopting organizational updates, selected course additions and removals, and modest fee increases intended to sustain programs and summer offerings.

Doctor Cox, who led the presentation, said committee work involved 40 to 50 stakeholders per group and that recommended organizational changes include expanded summer-school guidance, clearer notation of junior-high classes that earn high-school credit, and added explanations of the dual-language immersion program. The updated books also insert IB middle-years and high-school items in anticipation of district candidacies being approved.

On fees, the board approved an increase to the summer-school/course fee from $200 to $250 to cover teacher compensation and maintain program capacity; the district plans to continue waiving half of that fee for students on free and reduced-price lunch and to offer additional scholarships as needed. Transportation fees for certain sessions and a sports-academy per-quarter increase from $50 to $75 were recommended to address inflation. A minimal $25 fee for some beginning-string classes was proposed at the high-school level to cover instrument costs.

Doctor Cox and trustees discussed weighting performing-arts capstone classes. The proposal awards weighted credit for seniors who complete a four-year performing-arts sequence plus additional capstone work; presenters said the change is limited to seniors who show sustained commitment and meet honors-level criteria, and the district will develop consistent criteria to ensure parity across campuses.

The proposal also included course additions such as AP business and personal finance, AP cybersecurity, and additional dual-enrollment notation, and targeted removals of under-enrolled classes (e.g., introduction to French and German at some junior-highs) and classes that duplicated existing offerings. Trustees moved to approve the revised course-description books and the motion passed by voice vote.