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Colonial SD committee reviews two new AP courses and staffing needs at PWM High School
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Summary
District presenters described two proposed AP courses—(AP Business & Personal Finance; AP Cybersecurity) that would satisfy the district—s new financial literacy graduation requirement and offer potential college credit and industry credentials; board questioned staffing and how AP credit translates to college acceptance.
PWM High School—s program-of-studies and two proposed AP courses were presented to the Colonial School District curriculum committee on Nov. 10, with staff saying the additions aim to expand access and connect students to industry-recognized credentials.
Speakers representing the high school said the district saw recent growth in AP participation and exams and that the College Board—s new AP Career Kickstart initiative partnered with industry organizations (including CompTIA, Oracle and IBM) to create AP pathways tied to workforce credentials. "We had the most students enrolled in AP classes, the most exams, in AP history," a presenter said, noting the district hopes AP Business & Personal Finance and AP Cybersecurity will give students both college-credit opportunity and industry-recognized credentials.
The presenters said AP Business & Personal Finance would satisfy the district—s career financial management graduation requirement beginning with the class of 2027, and that the courses are intended for students in grades 10 through 12. Staff also described two instructional strands for the AP Business course: career and technical education and business, and said AP Cybersecurity aligns with CTE and computer science pathways.
Board members pressed staff on practical implementation: whether current staffing could support the courses and whether students would be advantaged or disadvantaged depending on which APs they select for college admissions. Staff said counselors use four-year planning to align course choices with students— postsecondary goals and acknowledged universities vary in how they award AP credit. One presenter noted the AP offerings are "entry-level" APs aimed at broadening access rather than limiting enrollment to only traditionally AP-identified students.
Staff asked for one additional teacher in the business department to meet enrollment demand and to avoid denying underclassmen access as scheduling fills with seniors and juniors. The committee did not vote on the courses; the proposals will move through the district—s approval process as part of the program-of-studies review.
The committee expects further scheduling details and a master schedule buildout during spring course selection for 2026, and staff indicated they will return with the formal proposal and staffing request as it advances through curriculum and building administration review.
