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Joliet Township outlines instructional overhaul, expands AP and dual-credit offerings under Strategic Plan action 1.4
Summary
District presenters described progress on Action Plan 1.4 — an instructional philosophy, staff training, expanded AP courses, new dual-credit and dual-enrollment offerings, new AET trade program and a daily flex intervention block — and said many changes aim to boost access for underrepresented students.
Joliet Township High School District 204 officials on Wednesday told the school board they are moving forward on Strategic Plan Action Plan 1.4, describing an instructional philosophy, staff training schedule and expanded course pathways intended to increase equitable access to rigorous coursework and career preparation.
District leaders said the work centers on a new, districtwide instructional approach embedded in culturally sustaining pedagogy and restorative justice, and outlined steps to train staff and audit course offerings ahead of a fuller progress report in May.
Presenters said the initiative will standardize classroom norms, expand Advanced Placement (AP) offerings and increase dual-credit options so students can earn college credit at reduced cost. The district also announced a new Applied Engineering Technology (AET) dual-enrollment program focused on manufacturing and plans for a daily 35-minute flex block to provide intervention and enrichment.
Dr. Riley, a district presenter, told the board the instructional framework is intended as the district’s “true north” for classroom practice and that training will emphasize a set of instructional norms (writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization and reading) and lesson-structure practices. “This is the instructional philosophy… that will serve as a means for us as we roll out what instruction looks like at Joliet Township,” Dr. Riley said.
Mr. Sean (presenter) said the district is expanding opportunities for accelerated placement, pre-AP and AP classes and cited three new AP additions for 2024–25 — AP African American Studies, AP Calculus BC and AP Seminar at the sophomore level — with AP Calculus BC added to give students a fourth-year calculus option.
Mr. McGuffey, who presented on dual credit and career pathways, said Joliet Township currently offers 21 in-house dual-credit courses totaling roughly 70 college credit hours and six dual-enrollment programs through partner institutions. With the six dual-enrollment programs in place, the district said the total number of dual-credit courses available would rise to 38.
McGuffey said most dual-credit tuition is free for students on the free and reduced-price lunch program and costs about $12 per course for others when taught in-house, and that many dual-enrollment programs are tuition-free to participating students. He described three new dual-credit additions for 2024–25 (accounting, marketing and exploring entrepreneurship) and the newly added Applied Engineering Technology program, which includes manufacturing skills such as CNC, basic welding and print reading.
Board members asked about participation and credit attainment. District staff said the annual report compiles enrollment and credit-earning data and that a recent Joliet Junior College software interface should make tracking easier going forward. “Not all students take the course for credit,” McGuffey said; the district said it will report dual-credit enrollment and successful credit attainment in its annual report.
Presenters also described expanded work-based learning: the district listed more than 80 internship opportunities and said students who completed 60 hours of work received a quarter credit, while 120 hours produced a half-credit. The district said it would continue and scale those credit opportunities in partnership with local business and economic development partners.
The board also heard that staff will pilot onsite Accuplacer testing in partnership with Joliet Junior College to remove transportation barriers for students seeking dual-credit eligibility. That pilot will begin with a rhetoric/compostion course (Rhetoric 101/102) to work out logistical details.
Ending: District staff said the 1.4 update is one part of a series of progress presentations ahead of a comprehensive May update; they asked the board to expect follow-ups with data on credit attainment and participation. Several board members praised the expanded AP and dual-credit offerings and the planned flex intervention block as tools to broaden access to rigorous coursework.
