High school requests approval of College Board–recommended AP World textbook ahead of school year

Grants Pass High School staff asked the board to approve purchase of the College Board’s recommended textbook for AP World History so the course will have materials available at the start of the school year. Teachers Jordan Casler and Matt Kennedy attended a College Board AP Institute and recommended the text the college board endorses; district staff said the book was made available for public review with an online link and could be reviewed in the superintendent’s office.

Staff told the board they would like approval by the Aug. 12 meeting to ensure the books can be purchased and available for students at the start of the term. Administrators also noted that articulation agreements with local colleges (Southern Oregon University, Rogue Community College) are separate processes: if a college agrees to articulate the AP course, the college will typically accept the College Board–recommended text when evaluating for credit articulation. Staff said the initial priority is to have the recommended text for the class this year; higher-level decisions about which local college the course will articulate with can follow once the course and materials are in place.

Board members asked about the opportunity for public review; staff said the book had been posted online about a week and a half before the workshop and would remain available for review in the district office. No motion to purchase was made at the workshop; staff requested that the board consider approval by Aug. 12 so copies can be acquired before classes begin.