Item Coversheet
AGENDA - April 12, 2018

5.0
INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS & STUDENT ACTIVITIES
5.2  Adoption of Textbook for AP Biology at Coronado High School  (Action)
 

Background Information:

Complying with Board Policy 6161.1, textbooks recommended for adoption by a textbook selection committee will be displayed and available for public inspection at the District Office prior to Board adoption.  

 

College Board has curricular requirements that AP Biology courses are operating with a “recently published (within the last 10 years) college level biology textbook”. Our last adoption was of Campbell Biology 8th edition back in 2008.  Given that information, the AP Biology instructors Nicole Belong and Amanda Vanasse, reviewed two textbooks for AP Biology. Campbell Biology and Campbell Biology in Focus. Most AP Biology courses and comprehensive biology undergraduate programs use Campbell Biology for their first year biology course. This book has been for decades essentially THE book to use for an introductory university level class in biology. After the curriculum redesign in AP biology the focus of the course has narrowed but increased the depth of what we study. Looking at the ‘IN Focus’ version of the Campbell book, we found that it really highlights what is needed in AP Biology and doesn’t have vestigial topics from the old curriculum that the full version Campbell has.

 

                                                                 

Reports:

We really like the In Focus version as it highlights exactly what the students need to know without having to sort through information that is supplementary, but not necessary. This book reads more like a text than a reference book. We would also have a 6-year e-text subscription with this book adoption.

 

Next Steps:

Each year the students in our district taking AP Biology has increased. This year we started the year with 150 students. We would like 160 books to begin the 2018-2019 school year. 

Financial Impact:

The estimated cost of the AP Biology adoption would be $ 26,778.82 (AP Program Funding).

LEARNING: Integrate personalized learning with assessment methods that will prepare all students for academic and vocational success:
1. Standards Aligned Core Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction