District curriculum staff on Sept. 15 previewed proposed changes to the secondary course guide for the 2026'127 school year, including course deletions, revised prerequisites and three new course proposals.
The proposals, presented by Liz Wendell, executive director of curriculum and instruction, include deleting two legacy introductory art courses, removing an unnecessary duplicate sophomore physical-education listing, and adding Algebra Extended, Applied Music and a second middle-school exploratory rotation.
Why it matters: The changes are intended to shorten prerequisite paths into higher-level fine-arts courses, provide targeted math support for some ninth graders and offer more specialized music and exploratory options for middle and high school students.
Key proposals and details
- Course deletions: Wendell recommended deleting Digital Art and Visual Art, which she said were introduced about a decade ago as introductory gateways and have become obsolete as prerequisites for photography and drawing. The deletions are intended to let students enter higher-level fine-arts courses sooner.
- PE duplication: The course guide currently lists two sophomore PE sections (listed in materials as PE 241F and PE 245F). District staff propose deleting the duplicate listing and keeping the section that includes CPR and AED training.
- Algebra Extended: Proposed for targeted incoming ninth graders who need more instructional time in Algebra I. The model replaces a separate study-hall intervention with a contiguous block (an extended period taught by the same teacher) so students receive additional minutes of instruction from the same instructor rather than a separate study-hall staffer. Wendell said the block would effectively replace the study hall portion (for example, running as a third-period-plus session) and is modeled after existing extended formats in Algebra II and some middle-school courses.
- Applied Music: Aimed at juniors and seniors preparing for college-level auditions, this independent-study-style course gives students individual performance juries and credit while they continue to participate in ensembles. Wendell said the course would accommodate students playing different instruments or focusing on vocal performance in the same class hour.
- Middle-school rotation 2: The district proposes a second exploratory rotation for seventh and eighth graders; the two rotations would alternate years. Rotation 2 would include quarters focused on business, foods, art and music to broaden student exposure to career pathways prior to high-school course selection.
Process and timeline: Wendell said the district aims to finalize course approvals before November communications and the high-school course-enrollment kickoff. The district will post updated, user-friendly course information for families, and formal board approval will follow the district's established review timeline.
Discussion items: Board members asked about whether Algebra Extended could be expanded into other subjects; Wendell said similar extended models exist for Algebra II and some middle-school geometry, but the district does not plan to replicate the block model broadly into language arts or science because of daily-schedule constraints and existing literacy supports (for example, the ARC academic readiness course).