Each of Prince George’s County’s 23 high schools will offer at least eight core Advanced Placement classes next year if the superintendent’s fiscal 2008 budget is approved.
Currently, “some schools may have several, others may have a few and, in some instances, there may not be AP courses offered at a school,” schools spokesman John White told The Examiner Tuesday.
“When [new superintendent John Deasy] recognized this, he put together a plan to make sure all students have the opportunity to take college-level work.”
White said the budget includes $5.4 million to, among other things, pay for the College Board to train 200 county teachers who will teach the AP courses.
Overall, Deasy’s $1.67-billion budget represents an 11.58 percent hike from fiscal 2007, and includes $160.4 million for program improvements, $43.2 million of which is an increase for Children Come First Initiatives implemented in the current fiscal year.
The $43.2 million includes the $5.4 million for the AP program, $1.4 million for an International Baccalaureate program and $5 million for library media centers.
Brian Edwards, chief public information officer for Montgomery County public schools, said his school system already offers AP courses in all its high schools. The options vary at each school, but Edwards said the county offers up to 30 AP courses.
“Montgomery County is a known leader in offering AP courses,” Edwards said.
Fifty-four percent of students in the county’s class of 2006 took at least one AP exam, and 46 percent scored at least a 3 or better on one or more exams, according to Edwards.
In Prince George’s County, residents will have the opportunity to comment on the fiscal 2008 budget during public hearings today at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt and Thursday at Rosaryville Elementary School in Upper Marlboro. Both hearings begin at 7 p.m.
The comments will be used during creation of a budget that the Board of Education will present to County Executive Jack Johnson for approval.
