New AP classes at MIHS this fall

Published 4:24 pm Monday, November 24, 2008

Mercer Island High School students will see new Advanced Placement courses next year as the district begins to implement recommendations from its AP/IB/Honors Committee.

Presenting its full report last spring, the committee told the school board that adding AP courses, allowing open access to advanced courses, and providing support for students in challenging courses are among the best practices of top districts around the nation.

Last week, members of the committee shared with the school board plans for the 2007-2008 school year.

The high school staff plans to add AP U.S. history and government, AP English literature and AP computer science this fall.

Other courses currently being considered are AP world history, AP psychology and AP American government, to be determined as the district continues its social studies curriculum review.

Leslie Ferrell, school board president, voiced excitement that the courses will be available as early as next year.

“We have been waiting for this forever,” said board member John DeVleming. “Thank you for finally having the guts to do something, to come through.”

But school board members Adair Dingle and Lisa Eggers were concerned that the high school staff plans to link some of these courses with other courses: AP U.S. history with English honors 11 and AP English literature with humanities.

“What concerns me is you really are limiting choices for kids,” said Lisa Strauch Eggers.

Principal John Harrison said the decision to link the courses came from a desire not to deviate from the high school’s current integrated curriculum. The AP U.S. history and English honors 11 combination would replace Honors American Studies, a course that combines junior-level English and history.

The district is currently reviewing its K-12 social studies curriculum, and may recommend significant changes. As a result, the high school staff didn’t want to suggest major changes, like allowing the linked AP courses as stand-alone courses, outside the social studies review, Harrison said.

But Dingle said that doesn’t suffice as a deciding factor in a curriculum.

“I understand the tradition at the high school, but I see it as very limiting,” Dingle said. “An honors course is not the same as an AP course and I don’t understand why they’re blocked together. To me tradition is not a justification for implementation of courses.”

When Dingle said parents have complained to her about the high school’s linked courses, Harrison said he had not received this negative feedback.

“Well they should be talking to me,” he said of the parents Dingle mentioned. “If we’re going to be responsive we need to hear the concerns and issues.”