A proposed AP Seminar course at Mountain View High School, taught for two years without board approval, prompted questions about equity, oversight and course design at a recent Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District Board of Trustees meeting.
The board is now considering formal approval of the course after a March 23 first reading, declining to place it on the consent calendar and instead requesting further discussion, information and community input.
District staff said AP Seminar replaced AP Language and Composition as the school’s 10th-grade advanced English course, creating a gap in advanced sophomore English offerings. The course is intended as an entry-level AP option for sophomores, emphasizing research, writing and presentation skills through a mix of projects and exams. Staff added that it is designed to prepare students for AP English Language in 11th grade and to expand access to advanced coursework, particularly for students who may not thrive in traditional test-heavy classes.
According to data presented, pass rates for AP English Language increased from approximately 80% to 97% after shifting to 11th grade, while AP Seminar students posted a roughly 92% pass rate in its first exam year. Staff said the results suggest both the course shift and the addition of AP Seminar are working as intended, though they acknowledged the data is limited.
Much of the board’s discussion focused less on outcomes than on how the course was implemented.
Multiple trustees expressed concern that AP Seminar had been offered for two years without formal board approval, calling the process “out of order” and questioning how the district defines and evaluates pilot courses. Staff and trustees also discussed how the course was implemented as a pilot, though some board members said clearer guidelines are needed to define when and how pilot programs should be brought forward for formal approval.
“If we’re going to have board approval, it needs to take place in the beginning of the process,” Board President Thida Cornes said, adding that the current situation limits the board’s ability to provide meaningful input.
Concerns about equity between the district’s two high schools were also raised, with trustees noting that Mountain View High School offers AP Seminar in 10th grade while Los Altos High School offers an honors-level English course instead, a difference some said could affect access to AP-weighted GPA opportunities and comparisons across campuses. The board also noted that at Mountain View, AP Seminar is currently the only advanced English option available to sophomores, prompting questions about student choice and the availability of alternative pathways.
District staff said the course change was partly intended to address equity by aligning AP English Language with 11th grade, consistent with College Board recommendations, and by introducing an earlier skill-building AP option less focused on exam performance.
They added that AP Seminar is designed to provide broader advanced coursework access, particularly for students who may benefit from additional support before taking more traditional AP English classes.
Trustees said they want additional data on enrollment patterns, student outcomes and how the course affects access to later English coursework before making a final decision.
