Students, parents press Palo Alto school board to reinstate on‑campus multivariable calculus

Dozens of students, parents and teachers urged the Palo Alto Unified School District Board of Education on Jan. 21 to reinstate multivariable calculus as an on‑campus dual‑enrollment course, arguing that current off‑campus and after‑school options exclude many students.

Student voices led the testimony: "I strongly urge the board to vote for MVC," said Oscar Veran, a freshman at Pali who described reaching AP/BC calculus early and facing no appropriate math option for 12th grade. Several other students and parents said transportation, community‑college registration priorities and conflicts with athletics or arts make Foothill College courses impractical for many PUSD families.

The district’s staff presentation outlined the existing pathways students use after AP Calculus BC, and administrators said the district has received roughly 69 non‑seniors who meet criteria to pursue advanced community‑college math. Assistant principal Rebecca Shan Lawrenson told the board that Foothill College has been a partner and that district teachers must meet additional requirements to offer dual‑enrollment credit during the school day.

Board members and staff described two near‑term and longer‑term options. Staff said Foothill College expressed a willingness to "do their best" to offer MVC after school on PUSD campuses aligned to the district calendar for fall 2025. Board members and administrators also said developing an in‑day, teacher‑led dual‑enrollment model would require additional steps—teacher proposals, site and district review, and potential changes to policy and credentialing—and could take longer to implement.

Several speakers pushed back on the district’s initial public explanation that credentialing alone prevented in‑day dual enrollment. Parents and community members cited communications from the California Department of Education and Foothill College that, in their view, indicate the college can claim apportionment and provide instructors without PUSD certificated employees being required. One commenter said a CDE contact and Foothill representatives had confirmed that the arrangements offered elsewhere are legal and feasible.

The board did not take a vote on MVC at the meeting. Instead, members asked staff to continue working with Foothill to secure after‑school on‑campus offerings while teachers pursue proposals for an in‑day, on‑campus dual‑enrollment pathway. The board noted the matter is a multi‑step process that involves negotiations among district staff, potential instructors and their college partners.

What’s next: Staff and the district’s math departments will continue discussions and work with Foothill College to offer MVC after school in fall 2025; board members signaled support for teacher‑led proposals but said policy and timeline questions remain before an in‑day dual‑enrollment model could be adopted.