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Board hears exploratory presentation on AOPA —You Can Fly' aviation curriculum; district aims for August 2026 pilot track
Summary
Superintendent and board members discussed a free aviation curriculum offered by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Foundation, noting potential CTE and general-education pathways, estimated consumable costs of about $1,500 a year, and a goal to start an aviation track by August 2026 if the district proceeds.
Tipton County Schools administrators reported exploratory work on an aviation curriculum offered by the AOPA Foundation and discussed how the lessons could fit into either career and technical education (CTE) or general-education pathways.
Staff said the curriculum, called You Can Fly, is offered free to schools but requires that lesson materials not be publicly reposted; supplies were estimated at roughly $1,500 per year for consumables and the primary cost would be for an instructor. The district team viewed sample lessons that included hands-on physics demonstrations and a pilot and drone track.
"There's a pilot track, there's also a drone track," a staff member said while outlining the curriculum structure. Board members asked whether the curriculum must be approved by the state; staff said it is lesson-based rather than a textbook and that district and state approval processes would be followed. Staff reported that the program is already in about 25 high schools in Tennessee and that the district's goal for implementation would be August 2026 if the board approves and the district completes due diligence.
Why it matters: An aviation program could create new CTE pathways, internships and industry partnerships, and potentially help students access jobs in the aviation sector. The district discussed instructor sourcing, the option of pairing with local airports, and whether courses would be designated as CTE or general-education credit.
Next steps: Staff said they will research state-approval options, committee membership for any textbook/curriculum adoption process, and present committee names at the October meeting. Board members asked staff to bring additional details about costs, teacher certification, and curriculum alignment to state standards before committing to adoption.
