To increase AP diversity

When Eric Witherspoon became superintendent of Evanston Township Schools outside Chicago eight years ago, he noticed its high school's AP classrooms were mostly higher-income and white, reports Brandis Friedman for the PBS NewsHour.  Its student body is 41 percent minority and/or lower-income. He realized students were tracked into AP through honors classes, enrollment in which was based on eighth-grade standardized-test performance. The high school began enrolling all incoming freshmen in honors-level English and history. Later, all ninth graders except those reading below grade level were also enrolled in honors-level biology, regardless of standardized-test scores; the same will soon be true for ninth-grade honors math. The school then offered 30 AP courses, and instituted a series of supports to ensure students who were enrolled in honors, and eventually AP, classes didn't fail. These include Team Access and Success in Advanced Placement, a support group where AP students can talk about academic issues, learn study strategies, and relieve stress. Between 2011 and 2014, students taking AP exams have risen 30 percent. White students increased by 19 percent, black students by 35 percent, and Latino students by 78 percent. Students scoring a three or higher on exams, which can lead to college credit, are up, too. White students increased attainment by 31 percent, black students by 98 percent, and Latinos by 116 percent. More

Source:  Public Education News Blast

Published by LEAP

Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP) is an education support organization that works as a collaborative partner in high-poverty communities.