Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Academic Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Taylor ISD student urges reinstatement of AP/honors weighting for Academic Decathlon
Summary
A Taylor High School senior told the school board that removing AP/honors weighting for the senior Academic Decathlon class reduces students' GPA incentives and that the program provides substantial academic and personal development.
Jeremiah Ruiz, a Taylor High School student, told the Taylor Independent School District Board of Trustees on Feb. 24 that seniors enrolled in Academic Decathlon should have the class carry AP- or honors-level GPA weighting.
Ruiz said Academic Decathlon requires extensive out-of-class study across 10 subjects—literature, art, economics, music, math, science, social science, essay, speech and interview—and that the senior-level course was recently stripped of its AP/honors designation. He said the loss of GPA weighting diminishes a key incentive and does not reflect the workload students complete for the program.
The student speaker described Academic Decathlon as both rigorous and formative, saying it helped him build confidence and life skills. Ruiz named the team coach, Vicky Rowe, for preparing students for competitions and the program’s demanding speech, essay and interview components. He said the high school administration is “working toward a solution,” and emphasized the value students place on GPA weighting even as administrators explore options.
Board members did not take action on Ruiz’s request during the meeting. The public comment took place during the meeting’s public-comment period; the board noted that under the Texas Open Meetings Act it cannot take action on items not posted on the agenda but may request administrative follow-up.
The student’s remarks were delivered during the board’s public-comments time and were not followed by a board vote or motion regarding Academic Decathlon GPA weighting.
