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Committee recommends new AP chemistry and physics textbooks and approves six‑year AP statistics license
Summary
On May 5 the Germantown Teaching and Learning Committee recommended to the full board adoption of new AP Chemistry and AP Physics textbooks and approved a six‑year digital license for AP Statistics; staff said all three selections align with College Board AP outcomes and fall under the district's $15,000 finance threshold.
The Germantown School District Teaching and Learning Committee voted May 5 to recommend three Advanced Placement instructional resources to the full board and approved a six‑year digital license for AP Statistics.
Staff advised the committee that College Board defines AP outcomes and that textbook selections must align with those outcomes and College Board guidance. "College Board creates outcomes that they've defined for our students and those outcomes are then represented on the AP test," Jake Nazir, a district staff member, said. He said AP policies include a recommendation that texts be recent; the committee was told College Board requires that students be provided a text with a copyright within the last 10 years.
AP Chemistry: The committee voted to forward to the full board a recommendation to adopt Nivaldo J. Tro's Chemistry: A Molecular Approach, 6th edition, for AP Chemistry. Brian Moas, an AP Chemistry teacher who reviewed available options, recommended the Tro text as "the best resource to help our students meet the outcomes for AP chemistry," Nazir said. Because the purchase falls under the district's $15,000 finance threshold, staff said it did not require finance committee approval. The motion carried with all committee members voting in favor.
AP Physics: The committee recommended Randall D. Knight's Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach for AP Physics. Staff reported that the five‑year enrollment for AP Physics has reached a maximum of 45 students and that teacher Wes Hoops reviewed several texts and recommended Knight's text. The selection was recommended to the full board and passed the committee unanimously.
AP Statistics: Staff recommended a digital AP Statistics resource (Modeling the World, AP edition) bundled with MyMathLab and Pearson eText, purchased as a six‑year license. Nazir said the digital package includes built‑in statistical modeling software many AP courses require; the district worked with high school teacher Mr. Canestra to confirm the digital resource met classroom needs. Staff explained licensing options and told the committee that a six‑year license is substantially more cost‑effective than renewing one‑year licenses repeatedly and that updates tied to College Board changes would be included during the license term. The committee voted to recommend the six‑year purchase to the full board; the motion passed unanimously.
Motions and votes recorded at the meeting show committee members Tracy Pollock, Jeff Boyer and Higginbotham moved and seconded the respective motions; each motion passed with the committee members voting "Aye." Staff noted that all three proposed adoptions are below the district's $15,000 finance threshold and therefore do not require finance committee approval.
Decisions made by the committee at this meeting were recommendations to the full board (for textbook adoptions) and a local procurement decision to proceed with a six‑year digital license for AP Statistics; final adoption and purchasing will be completed according to district procurement procedures.
