August, 2007

Dear Chemistry Students and Parents:

Due to changes in the way the University of California monitors the courses that high schools teach, we have been advised that we can no longer teach three levels of chemistry. For many decades in this district we have had: College Prep Chemistry, Honors level Chemistry and AP Chemistry. Since many of our students will apply for acceptance into the UC system or at least expect to when they are first enrolling in a chemistry class, we would be remiss if we had courses on the books that won’t be recognized when our students fill out the UC application.

The San Dieguito Union High School District was one of the first in the country to move to block period scheduling. The extended class periods are especially important in laboratory science classes such as chemistry, allowing for appropriate time for more complex laboratory experiments. Our district has also been teaching advanced chemistry as a double period class. Up through the 2006-07, we offered an Honors/AP Chemistry class at all four of our comprehensive high schools. At SDA and CCA, students took the Honors Chemistry in the fall and AP Chemistry in the spring.  At LCC and TP, students took two periods of Chemistry in the fall and two periods of AP Chemistry in the spring.

Since we are not able to offer the first half of a two year chemistry sequence at the honors level, we are now faced with needing to make adjustments in order to both keep the double period chemistry course intact, maintaining its pedagogical advantages, and also not have students in an environment where they are working harder and unfairly held to higher standards than all others taking a College Prep Chemistry class in a different format. With these things in mind, we are moving ahead with the following plan.

Starting this coming year, 2007-08, there will be an alignment of the courses called College Prep Chemistry that are taught either over a full year, single period class or over one semester, as a double period class. The only difference will be that the double period class  (at LCC and TP) will be selected by those students who are planning to enroll in AP chemistry in the spring semester and hope to be successful on the AP exam that May.

Enrichment materials will be available for any student enrolled in College Prep Chemistry. The enrichment program is designed to let students get a head start on the AP Chemistry course.  The completion of the enrichment materials is strictly voluntary and will not be given any credit or points. Students will not be penalized for not completing the enrichment materials before starting the AP Chemistry course.

What will change is that the transcript for students in the chemistry class that is taught in the fall as a lead up to AP Chemistry, will no longer have the “honors” designation. More details will be covered the first week of school in class with your Chemistry teacher.

In summary,

§        Students formerly enrolled in Honors Chemistry are now enrolled in College Prep Chemistry.

§        All College Prep Chemistry courses will be equivalent, including the first semester of double-period.

§        All students will be offered an optional enrichment opportunity to help them meet the requirements set by the College Board for AP Chemistry.

Sincerely,

Rick Schmitt

Associate Superintendent/Educational Services