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Board reviews proposal for AP African American Studies course with $12,000 startup cost
Summary
District staff proposed an Advanced Placement African American Studies course to be offered across high schools. The course, recommended for 11th–12th graders, would cost about $12,000 for hard‑copy and digital materials; the board asked questions and will consider approval in the course adoption process.
The Newport News School Board heard a proposal Dec. 17 for a new Advanced Placement African American Studies course that would be offered to 11th and 12th graders and likely run as a year‑long course across all district high schools.
Darryl Pankratz, executive director for teaching and learning, outlined the course content, said it has no prerequisites, and estimated startup costs of approximately $12,000 to cover hard‑copy texts and digital access for students. He described the course as interdisciplinary and said the district aims to align course offerings to neighboring divisions and expand advanced learning opportunities.
Pankratz said the course would be recommended for juniors and seniors and the first step is a comprehensive course‑guide revision. The board asked clarifying questions about prerequisites, rollout feasibility at each high school and long‑term staffing and materials costs. No formal adoption vote occurred at the meeting; the proposal was presented for review and will return to the board as part of the course adoption sequence.
If approved, the district plans training, stakeholder engagement and implementation guidance to support teachers and students during rollout.
