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FCPS outlines annual course-approval process and proposes new AI, aviation, cybersecurity and expanded CTE access
Summary
FCPS staff described the annual secondary course approval process, distinctions between standard and optional courses, proposed new offerings (AI, aviation maintenance, AP cybersecurity, AP business and finance), and steps to increase CTE access—while board members pressed for clearer VDOE criteria, sunsetting rules for low-enrollment optionals and a mandatory parent sign-off on schedules.
Sloan Presidio, FCPS chief academic officer, briefed the board on the division—s annual secondary course-review process and explained the distinction staff use between standard courses (advertised and available at a student—s base school) and optional courses (available in the division catalog but offered by local discretion depending on demand, staffing and facility constraints).
"A standard course is a course that's available to all students at the base school that they attend," Presidio said, noting that schools determine offerings based on student interest, teacher licensure, specialized equipment and scheduling. He also described the practical constraint of singletons and doubletons (one or two sections) that can prevent some students from accessing courses even when listed.
Jen Glaser, director of counseling, college and career readiness, explained the Virginia Department of Education—s role in designating which courses count toward graduation requirements: "The VDOE establishes which courses can count for graduation requirements, and then each school division may choose from them to provide those as offerings in their division." She added that optional school-site pilots can later be moved into the optional catalog and, when warranted, be recommended for division-wide standard status.
Staff previewed proposed additions for the coming year that reflect two themes: diversify career and technical education access across schools and expand higher-level world-language and advanced offerings. Examples included artificial-intelligence and cybersecurity courses, air-traffic and aviation-maintenance pathways, AP business and finance, additional AP science options, expanded fifth- or sixth-year world-language career-application courses, and dual-enrollment alignments with Northern Virginia Community College for physics and art.
Presidio said the division is proposing to move several CTE optionals into standard status (career investigations, construction technology, entrepreneurship, workforce connections) to reduce geographic inequities and increase equitable access.
Board members asked detailed process questions: how VDOE approval works, whether there is a running inventory of school-site-only courses, how and when optional courses are sun-set for low enrollment, and how parents are notified and engaged. Glaser said central teams monitor enrollment and that schools and departments can remove unused optionals; she also reported that the division now has a checklist for curriculum nights and that staff will implement a parent sign-off requirement on final student schedules this year.
Trustees also requested follow-up reporting: enrollment counts for new and proposed courses, a posted list of school-site-only courses, clearer metrics for access and transition programming (including transition supports for students with disabilities), and proposals for more equitable placement of specialized programs. Staff agreed to provide those items, either in the Friday letter or in follow-up memos to the board.
What happens next: the full course list and formal board action on specific course additions and designation changes are scheduled for the upcoming board meeting; staff said they will return with enrollment numbers and recommended sun-setting where appropriate.
