Portfolio prep is an additional and optional art class for the students who want to take AP art.  This class  gives AP art students more time in school to do art. 

Around May, the students who signed up for portfolio prep got the message from their counselors that the Portfolio prep class got discontinued due to numbers. 

There were many reasons why the class got discontinued. Mrs Jenkins, an art teacher, said that “ I think it’s a money issue and packed all of the other art classes instead of creating a more equal distribution of students per class.” 

Not only were the kids that wanted to take this class let down, but they are facing the consequence of not having this class. 

One consequence is that AP art kids feel behind. 

Taylor, one of the AP art students that planned on taking portfolio prep said,“ I feel like I’m working two times slower since I don’t have time in school.” 

Her biggest concern is time and finding a way to finish all her projects. For instance she said that “I wanted to paint all my projects, but I knew that I am a slow painter. Without the extra time I was afraid that I wouldn’t finish my pieces on time.”

Taylor said she thought of using pens and markers,” but this made her feel like she couldn’t “experiment and broaden her horizon because she didn’t have this class.”

Another consequence is the quality of the work. 

Mrs. Jenkins said that “last year there was a day and night difference between the students that took this class and those who didn’t take this class. The students that took the class produced more quality and quantity work. They were less stressed and were able to finish their work before the AP exam deadline.”  

The question remains whether overall the quality of the student’s work will be impacted this year.