Board debates AP offerings and scheduling amid equity and staffing concerns

Administration presented five-year data on AP exams and access, noting growth in the number of exams taken and students with passing scores on some subjects but lower pass rates in others. The presenter noted last year’s AP outcome for one course was affected because a high-performing teacher was on maternity leave.

Trustees raised two linked concerns: equity of access to core courses (several students could not take chemistry because of scheduling and teacher shortages) and fiscal/contract constraints that make small AP sections costly. One trustee said, “I have a huge challenge in taking this opportunity completely off the table for them,” urging the board to preserve options for students who want AP courses. Another trustee noted union class-size language and the need to be fiscally prudent.

Options discussed included combo classes (mixing regular and AP students), zero-period or after-school sections, dual-enrollment agreements with Antelope Valley College for some courses, hiring targeted staff, and using teacher volunteers for zero-period offerings. Trustees asked administration to get teacher feedback, model schedule and cost options, and propose a minimum enrollment threshold for offering a class.

The board did not change curriculum commitments at the May 12 meeting but directed staff to return with teacher input, a schedule impact analysis and cost estimates to inform whether under-enrolled AP sections could be sustained or restructured.