Board hears AP and dual-credit report; district notes stable enrollment and testing changes

Becky Frisbie, the district's secondary curriculum coordinator, briefed the board Jan. 12 on the 2024'25 advanced placement and dual-credit program, describing course offerings, partner institutions and testing changes.

"Most of the AP courses that we offer are both at CMR and Great Falls High," Frisbie told trustees, noting that many dual-credit courses are delivered by district staff in-district while some are taught by partner-college instructors. She listed partner institutions as Great Falls College MSU, Gallatin Community College and the University of Providence.

Frisbie said current AP testing costs are $110 per exam, which covers College Board fees and the district's proctoring costs. She explained the district now uses fully digital or hybrid testing formats rather than the traditional paper-and-pencil model; hybrid tests show questions digitally while students write responses in the AP test booklet for select formats.

Enrollment in dual-credit courses has remained fairly steady since the COVID-era spike, Frisbie said; she noted that not every student enrolled in a dual-credit or AP course takes the corresponding AP exam for several reasons (dual-credit students may opt for college credit, illness, or the receiving college's AP policy).

The board had questions about how AP and dual credit are recognized by selective universities; Frisbie replied that the acceptance of AP or dual-credit varies by university and by course, and some selective institutions prefer transcripted dual credit over AP exam scores for certain subject-credit determinations.

Trustees thanked Frisbie for the report; no board action was taken.