Barnstable committee adopts expanded program of studies, adds Portuguese biliteracy track and AP business course
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
The Barnstable School Committee on Jan. 7 approved the 2026–27 Barnstable High School program of studies, adding semesterized courses, a Portuguese seal of biliteracy pathway, AP Business and Personal Finance, STEM internships and a JROTC capstone, while removing several low-enrollment courses and embedding health curricula in co-taught classes.
The Barnstable School Committee unanimously approved the 2026–27 Barnstable High School program of studies on Jan. 7 after a detailed presentation by Principal Jason Kaneta.
Kaneta told the committee the document "outlines program offerings for students entering grades 8 through 12" and now lists more than 130 courses, up from about 105 last year. Significant additions include AP Business and Personal Finance, a Portuguese pathway designed to support the state Seal of Biliteracy, a new coast guard JROTC maritime capstone (MS‑4) and project-based internships in engineering and computer science.
The program also expands semesterized courses and clarifies NCAA‑eligibility for more offerings; Kaneta said the district submitted over 130 courses to the NCAA clearinghouse, with five still pending review. New career- and technical-education options include Project Lead The Way aerospace engineering and a music production sequence with local industry mentorships.
Several courses were reduced or removed because of low enrollment or curricular realignment. The school will discontinue a separate ninth-grade life science course and move health curricula into co‑taught physical‑education and wellness classes. Lifeguard training and some elective offerings were listed as deferred because participation was low this year.
Committee members pressed for clarity on how the changes affect graduation planning and course sequencing. The assistant superintendent said there is no graduation requirement to pass PE, but the district is obligated to offer PE to grades 8–12. "Our goal is to offer physical education to all of our students, 8 through 12," the principal said, and counselors will meet individually with students whose paths might be affected by the changes.
Board members praised the additions. One member called the Portuguese seal of biliteracy "a fantastic opportunity" and another emphasized the AP business course as important financial-literacy preparation. After discussion, a motion to accept the program of studies was made, seconded and carried unanimously.
The committee directed staff to continue communications with families about schedule impacts and to provide additional detail on pathways and credit equivalency for students who need to catch up in mathematics or other prerequisite sequences.