Education committee recommends PSAT‑10 purchase for 10th graders; district to study math acceleration and AP test funding

Perkiomen Valley’s Education Committee voted in favor of recommending that the board purchase PSAT‑10 administration for all 10th graders to improve early screening and AP‑potential identification.

Arthur Mitchell and Doctor Russell said PSAT‑10 offers actionable data and gives students testing experience; the committee agreed to recommend a district purchase for October administration and asked staff to include a memo for the full board. Mitchell noted that the district previously administered PSAT to 10th graders when budget allowed and that restoring universal administration could reduce equity gaps.

The committee also discussed whether the district should subsidize AP exam fees for students enrolled in AP courses. Members raised a range of funding options — full coverage, means‑tested support or a tiered contribution — and asked staff to return with current AP enrollment counts and a cost estimate for subsidizing exams for this school year.

Separately, administrators proposed multiple district studies: revising the induction program to meet a state requirement for two‑year induction and mentor assignments; a district‑wide study of visual and performing arts to evaluate pathways and potential high‑school majors; and a math‑acceleration study examining the role of 8th‑grade Algebra I, historical outcomes and equity for students with IEPs. The math study will include historical data analysis and family communication improvements.

Next steps: The committee will include a PSAT purchase recommendation in its board memo, collect AP enrollment and cost figures for the board’s review, and bring back proposals and timelines for the induction, arts and math studies.