Middletown committee to refer AP Physics C (mechanics) proposal to full board

The Middletown Public Schools Curriculum Committee on Oct. 9 reviewed a proposal to add AP Physics C (mechanics), a calculus-based physics course, and agreed to refer the proposal to the full school board for consideration.

The proposal, presented by Scott Peasley, secondary science and STEAM department head, recommends starting with AP Physics C (mechanics) as a pilot that would run concurrently with students' calculus coursework so advanced math students can apply calculus in physics. Peasley said the course differs from the district's existing AP Physics 1 because it is calculus based and can, at some colleges, be counted toward a major if the university accepts the AP credit.

Committee members said the course would broaden options for students pursuing STEM but flagged costs, scheduling and enrollment risks. "It is going to cost a fair amount of money, not only to train the teacher ... but also the textbooks themselves," Peasley said, noting he put a conservative total in the proposal of about $7,000 and that the cheapest textbook he found was about $250 per copy. He also said teachers must attend an AP summer institute and that AP physics sections are typically double blocks, which affects teachers' schedules and other course offerings.

Peasley and the committee described operational constraints: the district currently has three physics teachers, two of whom teach AP physics sections; AP Physics classes use double periods, which reduces the total number of distinct classes teachers can offer. Peasley warned that dividing AP physics enrollments between AP Physics 1 and AP Physics C risks low enrollment for one or both sections; he said AP Physics 2 this year had only four signups and was not run, and the district generally aims to keep AP classes at about 10 students or more to be viable.

Committee chair Deborah Gus and board member Liz Crooks said the district should retain AP Physics 1 to preserve access for students who are not in calculus, while adding AP Physics C for students already taking or prepared for calculus. Crooks said the committee should present the cost and staffing implications to the full board. "Unless you guys feel strongly about it against it, I would push this forward," Gus said, prompting general agreement from committee members.

Next steps include presenting the written proposal (made available on the district's MPSCT site) and its cost breakdown to the full board and working with guidance counselors and scheduling staff to determine prerequisites, enrollment thresholds and how a pilot would fit the existing high-school schedule.

Peasley said the proposal recommends a phased approach: start with AP Physics C (mechanics) as a pilot and consider adding AP Physics C (electricity and magnetism) later if the mechanics pilot proves successful.