Huntington School Board members have approved a new Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles course, which will be offered at Huntington High School for the first time during the 2023/24 school year.
Trustees took action on the proposal for the new course during a public meeting on Monday, November 14 in the Adam Spector Memorial Auditorium at Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School. The proposal had earlier been approved by the district’s Subject Matter Council and Educational Development Committee.
“The AP Computer Science Principles course is an introductory college-level computing curriculum that introduces students to the breadth of the field of computer science,” states the new course proposal presented to trustees for their consideration. “Students will learn to design and evaluate solutions and apply computer science to solve problems through the development of algorithms and programs. They will incorporate abstraction into programs and use data to discover new knowledge. They will additionally explain how computing innovations and computing systems work, explore their potential impacts, and contribute to a computing culture that is collaborative and ethical.”
The full year course will be available to juniors and seniors who have completed algebra. It is expected to enroll 25 students annually.
“The curriculum is designed to be equivalent to a first semester introductory college computing course,” according to the course proposal. “The major areas of study in the curriculum are organized around big ideas that are foundational to studying computer science.”
AP Computer Science Principles is designed to complement AP Computer Science A by “teaching the foundational concepts of computer science as it aims to broaden participation in the study of computer science,” states the course proposal. “Whether through 3-D animation, engineering, music, app development, medicine, visual design, robotics or political analysis, computer science is the engine that powers the technology, productivity, and innovation that drive the world.”
Trustees were told that computer science experience has become more important than ever for students entering the workforce of tomorrow.
“AP Computer Science Principles was designed with the goal of creating leaders in computer science fields and attracting and engaging those who are traditionally underrepresented in computer science with essential computing tools and multidisciplinary opportunities,” concludes the new course proposal.
Trustees voted unanimously to approve the addition of the new course.