By Mariya Kalashnikova
Staff Writer

The school’s Leadership Team is currently debating adopting an Open Access policy for honors and AP classes, but an official decision is yet to be made. An Open Access system would mean that all students could enroll in an honors or AP (college level) class, as long as they have taken the prerequisite courses.

The system would also eliminate grade requirements and teacher recommendations for higher-level classes.

The Leadership Team has been discussing the issue of Open Access for the past two years, but decisions concerning the school’s honors/AP system have been delayed.

The Leadership Team has focused on collecting data about Open Access policies at other schools, primarily Mountain View High School. MVHS is the other school in the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District, and switched to Open Access during the 2000-2001 school year.

Mountain View High School’s Open Access policy
Mountain View High School adopted an Open Access policy after Principal Pat Hyland became concerned that the higher-level classes were not reflecting the ethnic diversity of the school. Ever since the system went into effect enrollment rates in honors/AP classes at Mountain View have greatly increased, and minorities such as Latino students have doubled their representation, and now occupy approximately 6 percent of the seats.

The school’s average AP test score has dropped from an average of 3.65 in 2000, prior to Open Access, to a score of 2.89 in 2003. In 2000, 349 students took the AP examinations, and 250 of them received a score of 3, 4 or 5. In 2003, 555 students took the AP examinations, with 387 receiving a score of 3 or higher.

“The numbers indicate that their children have still earned their 3’s, 4’s and 5’s and have been joined by other students formerly barred from participation,” said Hyland. “I think any committed staff can make [Open Access] work. I believe that to my very core and would love to see it happen [at Los Altos High School.]”

Administration
In his final year at the school, Principal George Perez hopes to eliminate some of the confusion surrounding the honors/AP policy and possibly move to Open Access. Currently, there are many discrepancies in requirements for higher-level classes between departments.

For example, to enroll in an honors/AP English class for the next school year, a student must receive an A or A- first semester, as well as third quarter in his present English class. If this requirement is not met, the student can submit a portfolio, teacher recommendation, and take a written test to qualify for the class.

The school’s Leadership Team advised against adopting an Open Access policy for honors classes and advanced placement on November 17. The system also eliminates grade requirements and teacher recommendations for higher-level classes.