Rose basketball highlights
Issue 1
September 27th, 2019
New policy changes class credit requirements
WED. | 03-30-22 | NEWS
The state of North Carolina Department of Public Instruction recently implemented a new policy for the 2021-2022 school year regarding graduation requirements. This policy allows Advanced Placement (AP) United States Government to count as a civics credit for the class of 2025 onward. Students are required to take a civics class before they graduate, regardless of the level. Previously, AP United States Government has counted as an elective, and Civic Literacy had been the only course offered with standard and honors levels.
“The state of North Carolina has specific courses that are required for graduation purposes, and based on the curriculum that is taught in these courses, they can determine what meets the criteria,” J.H. Rose head counselor Christa Monroe said.
Although the decision has been discussed for many years, it was not put into place until this school year. However, it was an option for freshmen this school year and will continue to be an option for future incoming freshmen.
“I think [the state] took a look at the curriculum and realized that there are students who might be able to do AP work in the civics course,” Monroe said. “I think they wanted to provide that for those students.”
Because of this new policy, incoming freshmen that have
Photo by Mary Elizabeth Hutchinson
already completed World History can opt to take AP United States Government instead of enrolling in Civic Literacy. Prior to this policy, students would have completed Civic Literacy first, then could choose to enroll in AP United States Government as an elective. The division of economics and civics allowed for this policy to be implemented.
“Now that economics has been taken out of civics and civics has expanded a little bit more, [AP United States Government and Civics] are even more similar; not exactly the same, but they have similar content,” Social Studies Department Chair Amity Kea said.
AP United States Government is not the only AP class that freshmen can take. Some freshmen have chosen to take Advanced Placement classes such as AP World History or AP Psychology.
“I think the number of opportunities for freshmen who are willing to take AP courses is opening up a little bit more,” Monroe said. “You have students that are coming in and are ready for that kind of rigor, so this will allow for that.”
Despite AP United States Government recently being announced as a civics credit, Kea believes that there will not be any changes regarding the specific Advanced Placement curriculum in the class.
“The difference that I think it will make is the way teachers teaching AP Gov will take to get students ready for the exam,” Kea said. “There may need to be a little more scaffolding and instruction with writing.”
As more and more opportunities are opening up for freshmen to take Advanced Placement classes, both Kea and Monroe are excited about the number of doors opening, allowing freshmen to take more challenging classes and APs.