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Dublin City Schools Board reviews broad high‑ and middle‑school curriculum changes in first read
Summary
The Dublin City Schools Board got a first reading of proposed secondary program revisions — including new academy partnerships, an in‑person CCP pilot, reduced AP prerequisites, a single‑block approach for most AP science classes and new middle‑school digital citizenship and Theater 8 options. Final votes are scheduled for December.
The Dublin City Schools Board of Education received a first reading Monday of sweeping proposed changes to high‑school and middle‑school programming intended to expand college and career pathways and adjust course offerings to student demand.
In a presentation, the district’s Department of Academics and Student Learning (Mrs. Marple) outlined updates at Emerald Campus — including a renamed Media Production Academy, an Associates Academy to better align College Credit Plus (CCP) work toward associate degrees and refreshed engineering and biomedical partnerships with the University of Cincinnati. "We are excited about some ideas that are brewing around what we're calling an Associates Academy," the presenter said, describing work with Columbus State and University of Cincinnati partners.
The proposal would also change course structures at the three comprehensive high schools. The district plans to lower prerequisites for AP Computer Science Principles and AP Computer Science A to broaden access, and to reduce the number of high‑school ELA elective options from eight to five, folding creative‑writing and writing‑for‑publication into a Writer's Studio. Officials said these shifts respond to enrollment trends.
A notable change would be eliminating most double‑block scheduling for AP science classes so they meet a single block consistent with College Board seat‑time recommendations; AP Physics C would remain a double block because it covers two course‑equivalents. "We actually are over the College Board seat time recommendation," the presenter said, adding that prerequisites will be tightened where double blocks previously allowed students without full preparation to enroll.
The district also proposed an in‑person pilot next year to support students taking Columbus State CCP composition courses. The pilot would place one or two sections at a high school building (Jerome was cited as the likely pilot site), offering additional in‑person teacher support for students taking college‑level composition online.
At middle school, the plan would separate English‑language development (EL) instruction from ELA credit courses, add a universal sixth‑grade Digital Citizenship course, replace a sixth‑grade Leadership and Service elective with "Writing in the Digital Age," and create a year‑long Theater 8 option. The presentation also described capacity limits for fifth‑grade strings and a three‑to‑four‑year transition to new trimester scheduling.
Board members pressed staff on scheduling thresholds, equity across schools and how the district will run low‑enrollment courses. The district indicated that courses with fewer than 15 students may be consolidated, offered at Emerald Campus, or co‑seeded across sites and that three‑year enrollment trends will inform longer‑term decisions.
The presentation was explicitly a first read; the district said the changes will return for a second reading and a vote in December. "I welcome questions as you process because it's a lot to process," the presenter said.
What's next: The board will consider the proposed changes at a December meeting; no policy or course changes were adopted Monday.
