Albion urged to keep in-person AP classes in high school

ALBION – The Board of Education has been asked to maintain all of the district’s Advanced Placement courses, which are rigorous, college-level classes.

However, Albion only has a few kids in many of the classes. Albion would like to have at least 12 in the AP courses.

The district instead is shifting from some in-person AP classes to the Apex Learning platform, which offers AP classes online.

Several parents of students who want to take AP classes sent in letters to the board, asking Albion to reconsider and offer AP in-person.

(Editor’s Note: Marsha Rivers, wife of editor Tom Rivers, sent in one of the letters.)

Matt and Crystal Hand and their daughter Samantha all sent in separate letters, asking Albion to keep the AP program with in-person instruction.

Mr. Hand said the AP classes are an “important marker for college” and “help students reach their full potential.”

If a class-size minimum is needed, Hand suggested Albion better promote the program within the district and partner with other schools to offer the classes.

Mrs. Hand said many of the current sophomores and juniors in high school planned their schedules out in recent years so they could take AP classes next year, which now aren’t available.

“They shouldn’t be penalized because there aren’t enough students,” she wrote. “They rose to the challenge and are thriving.”

Jody O’Connor, mother of a student who wants to take AP next year, said Albion’s “dedicated and talented staff” have shown they can teach the classes and have their students excel.

Heidi Pask, mother of a student who wants to take AP next year, said the district should offer high-level classes for hard-working students who are going to college.

Not offering the AP classes puts Albion students at a disadvantage with students form other schools who have the AP background, she said.

Samantha Hand, a junior, wants to take AP calculus, AP physics and AP statistics next year. Those college-level will save her on tuition and prepare her for college, she wrote in her letter.

Kathy Harling, the Board of Education president, said the issue will be on the board’s agenda for its June 6 meeting and will be discussed in more detail.