Three-Tiered Approach to Building an Open-Admission AP Program in a High Needs School Presented By:...

Three-Tiered Approach to Building

an Open-Admission AP Program

in a High Needs School

Presented By:New Orleans Charter Science and Math High School &

Cowen Institute for Public Education Initiatives

Sci High 1

Session Objectives1. Foundation: AP as a Priority

2. Defining “Three-Tiered Approach”

3. How-To Guide• Years 1 & 2• Years 3 - 6• Year 7+

4. Questions & Answers

Sci High 2

2

FOUNDATION: Why focus on AP?

3

Sci High 3

Question: With all the problems in high-needs

schools, how can Advanced Placement be a priority?

Question: With all the problems in high-needs

schools, how can Advanced Placement be a priority?

Sci High’s Answer:• All students, especially those in high-needs schools,

deserve an education that prepares them for college. • In Louisiana, getting into college is easy.• In Louisiana, getting through college is unlikely.

• Graduation rates for public colleges range from 3% to 68%

• High school is a safe place to experience rigor. 4

Sci High 4

FOUNDATION: Why focus on AP?

Core Beliefs• All students are entitled to the opportunity to choose

college.• Participating in, and even struggling through, an AP class

in high school will increase a student’s post-secondary success.

Open-Admission AP Supporters• National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI)• Collegeboard (Equity and Access Colloquium)• Louisiana Superintendent of Education• Cowen Institute for Public Education Initiatives, Tulane University

Sci High 5

Big Goals of AP

1. Increase exposure to rigor (# of students enrolled)

2. Increase AP success (# of 2’s and qualifying scores)

3. Increase post-secondary performance (college persistence)

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Three Tiers of Open- Enrollment Advanced Placement Program

Tier 1 : Students who enroll in AP rigor and score 1

Tier 2: Students enroll in AP and score “college ready,” (2)

Tier 3: Students who enroll in AP and earn “college credit” (3,4, or 5)

Sci High 7

Tiers 1-3 in AP scores over 5 years

2008-2009: 4 tests4/361 students

Sci High 8

2008-20094 tests taken

2008-2009

Non-AP studentsTier 1Tier 2Tier 3

4 tests4 out of 361

students


Sci High 9

2009-2010: 70 tests56/373 students

85%

10%

4% 1%

2009-2010


70 tests56 out of 373

students


Sci High 10

2009-2010: 70 tests56/373 students

66%

23%

9%

2%

2010-2011



students


2008-2009 AP results4 tests

4 students out of 361 in AP

Sci High 11

2010-2011: 141 tests91/349 students


67%

20%

8%5%

2011-2012



students


2008-2009 AP results4 tests

4 students out of 361 in AP

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59%26%

9%5%

2012-2013



students


Sci High 13

280 tests

56%44%

2013-2014



students


280 tests

2013-2014280 tests

2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013 2013-20140

50

100

150

200

250

300

Tier 1Tier 2Tier 3# Exams

Sci High 14

What is Success in Open-Access AP?

• 100% of kids in an AP class take the AP test.

• 100% of students take an AP class (and the test) before graduation.

• Absolutely zero obstacles in signing up for an AP class• (No recommendations, grades, parent signatures, essays, etc.)

• NOT a high AP passing rate (unless the whole-school ACT scores correspond to high AP passing rates)

• Students cite their AP classes as their favorite classes in high school once they come back from college.

How To Build a Program

•Years 1 & 2: exposure, growth•Years 3 - 6: rigor, support•Years 7+: quality, longevity

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Years 1 & 2: Logistics

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Administrators attend APSI and research AP programs• Collegeboard’s Spotlight on Success• National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI)

Identify AP teachers• Must believe all students CAN. • Send to APSI, pile on resources

Curriculum team determines AP offerings • Limit or discontinue “honors” courses• Start small: 2-4 classes, 11th and 12th grade students

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Years 1 & 2: Logistics (cont.)

Maintain tight control over scheduling• Limit other staff from “recommending down.”• Remove all barriers from AP enrollment (teacher rec, GPA,

parents)• Determine when students can drop AP

Set up an AP Coordinator• Registers students for PSAT• Orders testing materials• Oversees AP course audit submissions

Allocate money for classroom materials• Especially science classes

Sci High 17

Years 1 & 2: Culture Shift

Student and Parent buy-in• Recruitment events/info nights• Orientation events• Events on college campus

Teachers/Faculty believe in mission• Not concerned with “passing rate”• Experienced external AP mentors

Administrators• AP as a priority, tied to college readiness and student success for

ALL students

Incentives• T-shirts, lunches, college visits, pizza study sessions, bling• Money for qualifying scores

Sci High 18


Sci High 20


Early AP Preparation• 9th grade: double-block math and English• Math and English intervention classes in 10-12th grade• Offer Pre-AP classes

Teacher development• APSI and Pre-AP training for anyone• Recruit for AP, retain for AP, redistribute for AP, fire for AP• Successful AP teachers lead the AP teams and strategy sessions

Scheduling• Add AP courses, focusing on areas of strength and student interest• Anyone can get in, very difficult to get out• Involve Advisory/homeroom teachers & AP teachers in process

Sci High 20

Years 3 & 4: Logistics (cont.)

Safety Nets• Tutoring, study sessions, retaking tests, redoing assignments, prep

books, mentors, study groups, class blog, study period, text/call/email teacher, resource guides, text/call study buddy

• Regular credit for an AP class

Mock Exams• Last year’s exam- access to free-response books for $250• On college campus, big lunch afterward

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Sci High 22


Celebrate!!• Special events: AP banquet, basketball game, pep rally• Around the school: bulletin boards, exemplars of AP work• Praise for AP Teachers• AP test days and mock exam days are sacred

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Conversations with students• How to talk about a 1• Talking up AP to 9/10th graders, incoming students (7th and 8th)• Inclusive Club: study groups, announcements, t-shirts

Faculty buy-in• Orientation for new faculty• Regular AP meetings

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Years 5 & 6: Looking Forward

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Logistics• Curriculum teams, vertical alignment• Identifying areas of low performance (begin using PSAT)• Build back to 9th grade

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Support• Student mentors• Increasing student

ownership & investment • Effective remediation

Culture• Continuing to work with teachers to keep AP open• What to do with failing kids?

Sci High 24

Our AP Course Offering Progression

US GovernmentEnv. Science Env. ScienceWorld History World History

Statistics Statistics StatisticsLiterature Literature Literature LiteratureUS History US History US History US History

Biology Biology Biology Biology BiologyCalculus AB Calculus AB Calculus AB Calculus AB Calculus ABChemistry Chemistry Chemistry Chemistry ChemistryLanguage Language Language Language Language2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013 2013-2014

Next year: Computer Science and Human Geography…?

Sci High 25

Make a Plan

Find your team• Who is already aligned? Who is an ally?

Start small• Where are your school’s areas of strength?

Get help• Email Laney French: [email protected] • Collegeboard conferences• Local network - visit schools with AP programs

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mailto:[email protected]

Questions?

LOGISTICS: building a program

CULTURE: shifting the focus

SciHigh Contact:

Laney French, [email protected]

Sci High 27

mailto:[email protected]

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Three-Tiered Approach to Building an Open-Admission AP Program in a High Needs School Presented By:...

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