Lehighton Area School District outlined several proposed changes to its high school curriculum Monday night, introducing a more rigorous slate of Advanced Placement courses and added electives within its technical education department.

Officials during Monday night’s board workshop detailed a program of studies that prioritizes college preparation and hands-on STEAM learning. The changes, set to take effect next academic year if approved, include a restructuring of vocational spaces and the addition of collegiate-level research and mathematics tracks.

“We’ll be increasing our AP offerings next year,” high school Principal Sue Howland said. “We will be adding AP English 10 Seminar, which is a research, critical thinking, writing and presentation skills course.”

To bolster the mathematics department, the district is also introducing AP Precalculus.

The high school is also significantly redesigning its technical programs, specifically targeting the woodshop and metal shop areas. Many of those courses are shifting from full-year to semester-based formats to increase student throughput and access to equipment.

“The reason to go back to a semester format is, quite honestly, we want to expand across more hands-on technical learning for more students,” a district official said. “By offering semesters, we have more students in those classrooms than a full-year course.”

The curriculum update also includes new electives such as architectural drawing and 3D design and printing.

Graduation credits

The district is also implementing a new tiered diploma system. Under a new policy, students can earn an academic diploma with honors by exceeding standard graduation requirements.

“Students who complete 26 or more credits with at least a 3.25 GPA will receive an academic diploma with honors,” Howland said.

Students who complete 26 credits but do not meet the GPA requirement will receive a general academic diploma, while the state minimum of 22 credits will remain the threshold for a general high school diploma.

Personal finance mandate

The update also addresses a new Pennsylvania mandate requiring a personal finance credit for graduation. The district plans to offer multiple ways for students to meet the requirement, including specialized business and mathematics courses.

“Personal finance is required by the state of Pennsylvania; every student must take that,” Howland said. “We have been doing that, so it won’t be hard for Lehighton to accommodate. Students can fulfill that via a standalone personal finance class, or we also offer Algebra and Everyday Living for a half-credit and Algebra of Employment for a half credit. That’s more like doing your taxes and the hands-on things.”

Lehighton will also be adding an AP Personal Finance course next year.