District presents new course proposals including Sports & Human Performance and community-service credit

Fayetteville Public Schools officials presented a package of course-name changes, replacements and new course proposals for the 2026–27 school year intended to expand student options and align with district graduation and pathway goals.

Dr. Christina Hudson, executive director of secondary education, described the multi-step approval process (staff proposal, building review, district committee, cabinet review) and highlighted several new offerings: Sports and Human Performance (a locally developed course later submitted to the state), a National Military Service pathway created in conjunction with DCTE, FHS local community service classes to ensure students meet a new community-service graduation requirement, Astronomy as an additional science option, and Adaptive Theater to broaden elective access. "So next year, they can get a local credit. Remember, we require 24. The state requires 22 credits to graduate," Hudson said when explaining how the community-service local credit will fit into the diploma requirements.

Hudson said some courses were deferred because of large state changes in CTE that required more time to review; others (team color guard credit flips, JAG local credit) were clarifications rather than substantive new offerings. Board members asked clarifying questions about community-service scheduling and how students would be screened for available classes; Hudson said the district would rescreen at the end of summer to account for hours earned during that period.

Administrators encouraged board feedback and provided links to detailed summaries in the course catalog materials.