SCE 5305

A Study of Conditions Affecting A Study of Conditions Affecting Advanced Placement ScoresAdvanced Placement Scores

•What factors What factors account account for a successful AP program?for a successful AP program?

•What attributes What attributes define define a successful AP program?a successful AP program?

In “Access to Excellence: A Report of the In “Access to Excellence: A Report of the Commission on the Future of the AP Program”Commission on the Future of the AP Program”

5 conclusions were presented.5 conclusions were presented.

1.1. Strategies to manage AP growth will be needed to Strategies to manage AP growth will be needed to ensure equity and quality.ensure equity and quality.

2.2. Extraordinary measures for support of teachers, Extraordinary measures for support of teachers, schools, and school systems will be required to schools, and school systems will be required to maintain high-quality AP programs – teachers’ needs maintain high-quality AP programs – teachers’ needs are paramount.are paramount.

3.3. Uses of AP should undergo evaluation to prevent Uses of AP should undergo evaluation to prevent conflict with the program’s principles.conflict with the program’s principles.

4.4. Continuous growth of student enrollment will require Continuous growth of student enrollment will require rigorous assessment of quality and validity. rigorous assessment of quality and validity.

5.5. Engage leaders in pedagogy to reflect best practices.Engage leaders in pedagogy to reflect best practices.

Plan of AttackPlan of Attack

Present Present current research of the AP program and current research of the AP program and integrate integrate it with other educational research.it with other educational research.

Collect Collect data from teachers, students, and other high data from teachers, students, and other high schools’ AP programs.schools’ AP programs.

AssimilateAssimilate research data and merge with current research data and merge with current research to form a picture of a developed program.research to form a picture of a developed program.

Formulate Formulate a model for school administration based a model for school administration based on current published research and collected data to on current published research and collected data to help generate a local plan. help generate a local plan.

Data CollectionData Collection

Distribute a questionnaire to local AP Distribute a questionnaire to local AP teachers and students.teachers and students.Meet with local AP teachers, counselor Meet with local AP teachers, counselor and principal to discuss our program’s and principal to discuss our program’s strengths and weaknesses.strengths and weaknesses.Distribute a questionnaire to teachers Distribute a questionnaire to teachers and counselors from other high schools.and counselors from other high schools.Collect AP scores locally and from Collect AP scores locally and from other high schools from the past 3 years.other high schools from the past 3 years.

Use of Final ResearchUse of Final Research

D ep artm en t o f D e fen seS c ien ce E d . D irec to r

W ash in ton D .C .

C u rricu lu m D irec to r

L oca l S u p erin ten d en t

C ou n se lo r A P teach ers

L oca l H S p rin c ip a l

D issem in a tion o f R esearch

ConclusionConclusionThe goal of this paper is to provide a The goal of this paper is to provide a framework for administrators so that a framework for administrators so that a better understanding exists of the scopebetter understanding exists of the scopeAdvanced Placement programs entail. Advanced Placement programs entail. Experience has shown that more is Experience has shown that more is necessary than simply offering courses if necessary than simply offering courses if the program is going to yield results the program is going to yield results satisfactory for parents, students, and satisfactory for parents, students, and educators. This paper will show that educators. This paper will show that administrative knowledge will ensure administrative knowledge will ensure students have the best opportunities for students have the best opportunities for success when unified support for success when unified support for improvement exists. improvement exists.

Mary Jon WhittemoreMary Jon Whittemore

THE ENDTHE END

Mary Jon WhittemoreMary Jon Whittemore

SCE 5305SCE 5305

November 2001November 2001