AP Java doesn't count for a tech credit, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is AP Computer S principles a pre req for AP Java? If your kid already took AP Comp Sci Principles, they fulfilled the tech credit.

He hasn't yet, he's just starting HS next year and took foreign language + band all 3 years of MS. Trying to understand the pathway and requirements here. Like if AP Java counts for tech credit, I wouldn't suggest him taking AP CS Principles next year, but if it doesn't, I would.

Ask if the school will approve taking AP CS A Java without taking AP CS Principles first, and if they require a placement evaluation. Please report what you learn.

Bigger issue here is why isn't it CONSISTENT at ALL MCPS schools? And why isn't it CLEAR in documents, website or stuff coming out of humans' mouth when you ask at school or elsewhere?

Exactly. I was told it was a prerequisite and then later found out it was not. AP CSP is a dumb class for any kid really interested in CS.

[Anonymous]

AP JAVA counts as the tech credit according MSDE who set the requirement:

https://marylandpublicschools.org/programs/Documents/CTE/TE/Advanced%20Technology%20Education%20Memo%206-18-21%20(2).pdf

AP Java is AP Comp Sci A

It changed a few years ago.

[Anonymous]

PP here.

I'm sorry. I don't know why the link above didn't include the .pdf.

I found it from this page:
https://marylandpublicschools.org/programs/Pages/CTE/TechnologyEducation.aspx

Click on the link on the right side of the page that says:

"Technology Education Graduation Credit Options"

The document is dated June 2021

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It does according to this, on the Churchill site https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/winstonchurchillhscourse/home-25-26/course-offerings/career-technology-education?authuser=0

But not according to the county site https://coursebulletin.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/publications/HSCourseBulletin2025.pdf (page 19)

It didn’t for my kid a few years earlier. The much less rigorous AP cs fundamentals class did however. Silly. My kid had to take a BS freshman engineering class to meet her requirements. I’ll take the blame; I assumed that the follow on AP CS class would count if the introductory class did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AP JAVA counts as the tech credit according MSDE who set the requirement:

https://marylandpublicschools.org/programs/Documents/CTE/TE/Advanced%20Technology%20Education%20Memo%206-18-21%20(2).pdf

AP Java is AP Comp Sci A

It changed a few years ago.

Oh I’m really upset about this. I have two kids who took comp sci principals (which is a tremendously stupid class for anyone with CS knowledge) solely to get the tech credit. One maybe was before the change but the other was just last year. It really drives me nuts that McPS is not more transparent about this stuff. They constantly send emails and texts with worthless information but not information like this that would actually be helpful!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AP JAVA counts as the tech credit according MSDE who set the requirement:

https://marylandpublicschools.org/programs/Documents/CTE/TE/Advanced%20Technology%20Education%20Memo%206-18-21%20(2).pdf

AP Java is AP Comp Sci A

It changed a few years ago.

Oh I’m really upset about this. I have two kids who took comp sci principals (which is a tremendously stupid class for anyone with CS knowledge) solely to get the tech credit. One maybe was before the change but the other was just last year. It really drives me nuts that McPS is not more transparent about this stuff. They constantly send emails and texts with worthless information but not information like this that would actually be helpful!

I wouldn't assume that MSDE's preapproved list necessarily means that MCPS's graduation requirements have been changed. The current year's course bulletin still says these are the courses that fulfill the tech credit:

Foundations of Technology A/B
Foundations of Computer Science A/B
Foundations of Engineering & Technology A/B
Introduction to Engineering Design A/B
AP Computer Science Principles, TE A/B
IB Computer Science 1, TE A/B
Advanced Design Applications
Advanced Technological Applications
Engineering Design A/B

https://coursebulletin.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/publications/HSCourseBulletin2025.pdf

[Anonymous]

Why wouldn’t AP a Java count as tech credit?? That makes no sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn’t. Very limited pathway to get that tech credit. Many more advanced tech classes do not count.

+1. The Churchill document is incorrect.

The Churchill document is that way so that families can claim it, under appeal if necessary, without having to have their DC take the more foundational course -- freeing up an additional slot for AP to support highly competitive applications.

Not that some students shouldn't be going straight to the higher level course.

MSDE & MCPS set their policies and parent groups with influence sidestep them...

Why? Why waste so much of everyone's time? Appeal? GF no

That's a question for MSDE/MCPS, and why the latter doesn't enforce some kind of uniformity of opportunity in this regard (and others). It's not like they don't know about it. They just look the other way/throw up thier hands. It leaves students at schools that make different decisions about what their students can take at a disadvantage.

Blair not allowing registration for higher than 4th level language in 9th, no matter the background of the student, is an example of the opposite. They allow switches during the year under appeal sometimes, but that messes with scheduling for other classes that then would need to be switched, rather than baked in properly during course selection the year before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why wouldn’t AP a Java count as tech credit?? That makes no sense.

It’s definitely not marked as meeting the tech requirement on the WJ course registration cards. That would be appalling if kids could get a tech credit for Java but they’re not being told. Has anyone asked?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here.

I'm sorry. I don't know why the link above didn't include the .pdf.

I found it from this page:
https://marylandpublicschools.org/programs/Pages/CTE/TechnologyEducation.aspx

Click on the link on the right side of the page that says:

"Technology Education Graduation Credit Options"

The document is dated June 2021

https://marylandpublicschools.org/programs/Documents/CTE/TE/Advanced%20Technology%20Education%20Memo%206-18-21%20(2).pdf


Computer Science Courses Engineering Courses Technology Education Courses
• Advanced Placement
Computer Science A
• Advanced Placement
Computer Science Principles
• Beauty and Joy of
Computing
• Foundations of Computer
Science
• Computer Science
Discoveries
• Computer Science
Principles
• International Baccalaureate
Computer Science
• ITEEA Advanced Placement
Computer Science Principles
by Design

[Anonymous]

The 2016 MSDE doc does not include CS A.

https://marylandpublicschools.org/programs/Documents/CTE/MDTechnologyEducationStandards.pdf

The 2021 document linked above includes CS A.

MCPS is probably just too lazy to update their documents and processes, since admin stopped working at the start of Spring Break March 2020.

CS A kids and Cyber Security kids and Website Development kids should do a joint project to hack the websites and servers and update everything to add CSA lists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is AP Computer S principles a pre req for AP Java? If your kid already took AP Comp Sci Principles, they fulfilled the tech credit.

It's not a pre-req. My kid came from the TPMS magnet so went straight to AP Java. His counsellor said it doesn't count but other sources said it does. Confused.

In ParentVue Graduation Requirements, does your kid have tech credit?

What were the id# of the middle school computer courses?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is AP Computer S principles a pre req for AP Java? If your kid already took AP Comp Sci Principles, they fulfilled the tech credit.

It's not a pre-req. My kid came from the TPMS magnet so went straight to AP Java. His counsellor said it doesn't count but other sources said it does. Confused.

It's like that other post about another course, forgot if it was math or something else. When a parent asked counselor, counselor says they can take the AP class. When parent and student asked that course's Lead Teacher, they were told to take the Honors first then the AP.

Our counselor is pretty responsive and has been fairly proactive about reaching out with opportunities for various things (also Churchill). They've been able to give informative advice and are willing to work with our kid to get what he needs/wants. We'll see about the tech credit, but I wouldn't be terribly concerned if he has to take another tech class; knowing my kid, if he was forced to take a non AP or HON tech class he'd do it over the summer. Though it would be better to have it waived or subbed. He can ask.

They offer AP tech over the summer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AP JAVA counts as the tech credit according MSDE who set the requirement:

https://marylandpublicschools.org/programs/Documents/CTE/TE/Advanced%20Technology%20Education%20Memo%206-18-21%20(2).pdf

AP Java is AP Comp Sci A

It changed a few years ago.

Oh I’m really upset about this. I have two kids who took comp sci principals (which is a tremendously stupid class for anyone with CS knowledge) solely to get the tech credit. One maybe was before the change but the other was just last year. It really drives me nuts that McPS is not more transparent about this stuff. They constantly send emails and texts with worthless information but not information like this that would actually be helpful!

Seriously. Should be the logo: MCPS largest school district in MD and not transparent in information that is helpful 9.75/10 times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The 2016 MSDE doc does not include CS A.

https://marylandpublicschools.org/programs/Documents/CTE/MDTechnologyEducationStandards.pdf

The 2021 document linked above includes CS A.

MCPS is probably just too lazy to update their documents and processes, since admin stopped working at the start of Spring Break March 2020.

CS A kids and Cyber Security kids and Website Development kids should do a joint project to hack the websites and servers and update everything to add CSA lists.

At some schools (or maybe all, who F knows!), a class called Foundations of Computer Science used to be offered. I think tech credit was given for that course so students not interested in CS related courses didn't even need to take AP CS Principles. The Foundations of CS may have been a pre req for AP CS Principles. But then maybe it wasnt, again, who F knows