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Madison School District outlines program-of-studies updates: personal finance required, art renames and Algebra II restructured
Summary
At a curriculum committee meeting, staff presented updates to the program of studies including two newly required courses (independent project and personal finance), art-course renames, AP designation changes and a multi-year plan to replace a Level 3 Algebra II with three trimester courses (Algebra II A, B and C).
Madison School District staff presented proposed changes to the district’s program of studies at a curriculum committee meeting, including new graduation-course requirements, revisions to art and world-language listings, and a restructuring of upper-level mathematics.
Melanie, a district presenter, said the district will require both an independent project and a personal-finance course for graduation, and that both would be graded on a pass/fail basis. She told the committee these courses “are more developmentally appropriate” for upper-level students and that the program-of-studies document will reflect the grade-level guidance for offering those courses.
The presentation also described departmental revisions. In the art department, course titles will be updated to match current practice and sequencing — for example, a clay course will be renamed ceramics and drawing will be split into Drawing Studio 1 and Drawing Studio 2 to signal a sequence. Melanie said AP Studio Art Drawing has had a curriculum change from the AP side and will no longer meet the district’s humanities designation, though it will still count as an art credit. Photography courses were described as newly eligible for a STEM designation because of increased technology use in coursework.
On mathematics, presenters described the district’s multi-year plan to phase out Level 3 courses. TJ said this is year three of the initiative: “Next year, we will be removing the algebra 2 level 3 courses from the program of studies,” and replacing them with three trimester, half-credit offerings labeled Algebra II A, B and C. Those are intended to be taken in sequence (students typically take any two to earn the equivalent credit), with co-teaching and placement supports for students who need them. TJ said algebra 2 honors will continue to be available for college-preparatory students.
Committee members asked whether colleges or admissions offices could misinterpret an Algebra II A/B/C labeling system. A board member asked if transcripts would explain the sequencing; TJ and others said the program-of-studies will include explicit explanations so colleges can interpret course levels and that similar models exist in other schools without negative impact.
Presenters emphasized the district’s trimester calendar as the operational context: each trimester equals a half-credit, some courses (for example, foundational Algebra I) run across three trimesters and award 1.5 credits, and counselors meet with freshmen through juniors to confirm course selections and override requests. Melanie said finalized course descriptions and department overviews will be posted on the district website once approved.
No formal vote or board approval was recorded in the presentation; presenters said the next steps include posting the program-of-studies online, gathering course requests in January and reviewing final grades in June to determine placements or overrides.
