Panther Valley students taking advanced placement may be able to earn college credits at a reduced rate through Lackawanna College, the junior-senior high school principal told school board members.

On Wednesday, Patricia Ebbert explained the Level Up program offered through the college, which would allow AP students to earn college credits for classes their taking in high school.

The district, which is already affiliated with Lehigh-Carbon Community College and has their teachers teaching in the school, would need a memorandum of understanding with Lackawanna College.

Lackawanna, through this program, would check the high school’s course syllabi to see that they align and students would get credit for the courses taught by Panther Valley teachers, she said.

There is no cost involved to the school district, but students would pay $100 a credit, or $300 per course, for the college credit for the AP courses, Ebbert said. This is a reduced rate per credit, she said.

Students get college credit at the end of AP courses by passing an AP test with a score of four or higher, Ebbert said. Panther Valley does have students passing with fours and fives, she said.

This program would support the students who don’t pass the test, giving them the college credit, she said.

The only drawback that Ebbert could see is that students must pay for the credits before taking the test, and don’t get their money back if they pass, she said.

Lackawanna would come to school, help students register, take the money and enroll them in the program, Ebbert said.

“I was very impressed with the process,” she told the board. “It all depends on whether or not they will accept the syllabus, which usually they will, because it’s an AP class.”

The school would look at its AP courses first, and could possibly look at the school’s higher level honors classes, Ebbert said.

She believes the program, if the board approves, could benefit students and give them a step up going into college.