AP or not AP?
It appears that my Advanced Placement story has stirred up a little discussion on The Sun’s Topix message board.
In a nutshell, I wrote about the success that Maryland students have had in the national program.
Many on the message board are using the recently released results as ammunition in the Grasmick vs. O’Malley feud.
Through the course of reporting this story, I was struck by the fact that the AP program seems to be doing something that NCLB has not been able to do — encourage college-level curriculum. While some have argued that many states have begun to water down curriculum in order to meet NCLB growth requirements, the College Board, which administers the AP program, has beefed up its standards. This year, AP teachers were required to submit their course syllabuses to the College Board for review.
Can you provide me with examples of NCLB encouraging college-level courses? And please do not spurt out the term “highly qualified” teachers. I’ve covered education long enough to know that this is a laughable label…
Categories: Around the Region, Testing
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Comments
You don't need AP to encourage college-level thinking. My HS had honors courses that did the same thing without narrowing the curriculum to what is on the AP test (akin to what happens with NCLB causing schools to focus just on what is on the test).
As was mentioned in the comments on the article, most good colleges will only give credit if someone earns a 5. AP exams cost a lot of money, and even if there is grant money to cover the cost, someone ends up paying, and the College Board ends up making the money.
It all seems like smoke and mirrors...but is something a state gets to brag about when it is still failing to education a huge portion of its children to even a basic level...doesn't seem right.
Posted by: Michelle | February 14, 2008 5:27 PM
Michelle,
While I agree that you don't need the AP label to encourage college-level thinking, the test is a good universal way to ensure that the course work meets a basic standard.
One of the problems with NCLB is that there is no basic standardized test that all American students take.
If you go back to New Orleans, or Sioux Falls, S.D. -- two of the places I lived before moving here -- those people know nothing about MSAs and HSAs. They have their own tests. The AP exams, however, don't change state to state.
Maybe its the pessimist in me, but I would rather have an independent body (ie the College Board) craft, and administer a test instead of leaving that responsibility to states, which could lose federal funding if students fail to meet ascending standards.
Posted by: John-John Williams IV | February 14, 2008 6:02 PM
With regard to John-John's comment: The College Board is also the ones that have screwed up the scoring of SATs and GREs and kept students out of college. I do agree that, if NCLB stays, there should be a standardized test but I am not sure I trust the College Board any more than I do the states.
Posted by: Joan | February 14, 2008 9:27 PM
John John,
I'm curious to hear how Maryland placed in these AP rankings in past years.
How much credit do you think belongs to Grasmick vs. the principals/teachers/students?
Posted by: Corey | February 15, 2008 10:36 AM
thats good that the collegeboard has risen standards for highschoolers. it will be good for both students and teachers. it will make a better environment for all of us
Posted by: deena | February 15, 2008 8:20 PM
Corey,
Sorry about the delay in my response. I completely missed your post.
Maryland has been among the top in the nation since the College Board has been releasing state-by state data. But, this was only their fourth annual report....
Posted by: John-John Williams IV | February 20, 2008 2:20 PM