Waunakee committee forwards four course proposals, including AP Seminar and cybersecurity-focused AP Computer Science Principles
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Summary
The Waunakee Curriculum Committee voted to send four course proposals to the full board, including a replacement AP Seminar for English 10 and a year-long AP Computer Science Principles course with a cybersecurity focus; administrators said the new offerings are meant to expand access and are expected to be FTE neutral.
The Waunakee Community School District Curriculum Committee voted to forward four proposed courses to the full board for review, including AP Seminar as a replacement for the district's local Advanced English 10 and a year-long AP Computer Science Principles course with a cybersecurity emphasis.
Tim Shell, who presented the package, described two middle-school introductions (EL English and Unified PE) that extend successful high-school models down to middle grades and two high-school changes that replace courses rolling off the catalog. "AP English Seminar is much more, research projects and presenting your projects," Shell said, characterizing the AP Capstone-aligned course as project-based and less dependent on a single exam than some AP offerings. He added the district estimated enrollment for AP Seminar at about 70 students but said final numbers depend on course-administration approval.
Shell said the cybersecurity variant of AP Computer Science Principles grew from prior work by staff member Aaron Prevost and feedback from graduates and would replace an older IT Hardware Essentials course that has not run in several years. The College Board offers multiple AP Computer Science Principles variants; Shell said the cybersecurity focus responds to student interest and area needs and would likely be offered as one to two sections.
Board members asked whether new computer-science offerings are coded as math equivalencies. Shell clarified Computer Science A has been used as an optional math equivalency in the past, but the new cybersecurity course would be offered as an elective rather than a math-equivalency credit. He also told the committee the four courses are expected to be FTE neutral overall, though staffing assignments could shift among teachers.
Chair asked for a motion to forward the package to the full committee; the motion was made and seconded and received assent.
Next steps: the proposals will proceed through course administration review and then return to the board for final approval and catalog placement.