Edwardsburg board approves new social studies curriculum and two AP courses

The Edwardsburg Public Schools Board approved the district's recommended secondary social studies curriculum and authorized two new Advanced Placement courses for the high school.

The superintendent presented the secondary social studies adoption, saying the process involved teachers on a review committee and a subcommittee presentation on Jan. 13. The recommendation included purchasing classroom sets of textbooks (approximately 40 copies of each title to accommodate in-class and at-home needs) and six-year student digital licenses. "This process began last year, and we received that culmination this evening," the presenter said, noting the adoption "comes in under budget." (Transcript: superintendent remarks.)

On the high school side, the board approved two AP course additions—AP Statistics and AP Macroeconomics/Microeconomics—to be taught by on-staff, AP-credentialed teachers. The board recorded that Steve Wright would teach the economics offering and Becca Horvath would teach AP Statistics. The presenter estimated curricular/text materials to be "in the neighborhood of 6 to 7,000 per course," which the business office reviewed and considered acceptable.

Board members asked whether in-campus AP offerings would affect students’ ability to take courses off-campus at local colleges and how college credit acceptance depends on AP test scores and individual college policies. Dr. Suetsch summarized that credit transfer "depends on your score on the test and the college or university you're going to," and that counselors would help students navigate options.

The board moved and approved the secondary social studies adoption and the AP course additions by voice votes during the meeting. The superintendent also noted the elementary social studies adoption process remains active with a planned March presentation.