Madama Valley High School Expands Course Offerings with New AP and Media Literacy Classes

The RSU 40 Board Meeting on July 21, 2025, unveiled significant changes to the district's social studies curriculum, aiming to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes. A key highlight was the decision to combine government and economics courses into a year-long class, allowing students to maintain the same teacher and classmates throughout the year. This shift responds to previous challenges with low enrollment in semester-long courses, where classes often had only a handful of students.

In addition to the curriculum restructuring, the board announced the introduction of Advanced Placement (AP) government and AP microeconomics as year-long offerings, replacing the previous semester format. Teachers expressed enthusiasm for this change, believing it will provide a more in-depth educational experience for students.

The meeting also addressed the need for diverse elective courses. A new "History of Sports" class is in development, inspired by its popularity at other schools. Furthermore, a "Coaching Athletic Administration and Game Day Management" course is set to launch, reflecting the community's interest in athletics and coaching.

Despite some setbacks, such as funding issues for a proposed media literacy class in collaboration with Lincoln County Television, the board remains committed to providing innovative learning opportunities. The media literacy course, now offered as an honors class, aims to equip students with practical skills in communication and media production.

The board's decision to increase the credit requirement from 22 to 24 credits was also discussed, with members emphasizing the importance of offering a robust educational experience that meets state standards. This change is expected to provide students with more opportunities to explore various subjects and earn credits through work-study programs.

Overall, the meeting underscored RSU 40's dedication to adapting its curriculum to better serve students' needs and interests, ensuring a more engaging and relevant educational experience.