July 8, 2001 – Fifty-seven Virgin Islands public high school teachers will get special training starting Monday in teaching advanced-placement courses that are to be offered beginning in the fall.
The new "AP" courses, some of which have never before been available in the territory, are in Spanish, calculus, biology, U.S. history and English language and composition. They will be taught at all four of the territory's public high schools, Charlotte Amalie and Ivanna Eudora Kean on St. Thomas and Central and Education Complex on St. Croix.
Successful completion of advanced-placement courses allows participating students to enter college with some credits toward a degree.
Last school year, the only advanced-placement courses offered in the Virgin Islands were U.S. history (at both St. Croix schools) and English language (at Education Complex).
Education Commissioner Ruby Simmonds could not say how many students would be taking the courses in the fall, but did say she expected full classes at all four schools in all of the AP subjects offered.
The training, along with support programs, is being funded by a three-year federal grant. Simmonds said the territory will get $282,000 a year for planning, training and testing.
The grant will also fund pre-AP courses at the junior high level and will support the reintroduction of "gifted and talented" programs in the elementary schools.
Five AP instructors from the U.S. mainland, selected for their experience with the AP curriculum, teaching expertise, creativity and endorsement by the College Board, will offer instruction in each of the five courses, according to the program brochure.
The teachers' training will start with an opening session at 9:45 a.m. Monday at the St. Croix campus of the University of the Virgin Islands. Sessions thereafter will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily through Friday, culminating with a closing ceremony at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Sea Top Restaurant, where Simmonds will give the keynote address.
The cost of training is $400 per teacher and does not include accommodations on St. Croix for those traveling from St. Thomas or St. John.
