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

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. Session Objectives. Foundation: AP as a Priority Defining “Three-Tiered Approach”

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

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  1. Sci High 1 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

  2. Sci High 2 Session Objectives • Foundation: AP as a Priority • Defining “Three-Tiered Approach” • How-To Guide • Years 1 & 2 • Years 3 - 6 • Year 7+ • Questions & Answers

  3. Sci High 3 FOUNDATION: Why focus on AP? Question: With all the problems in high-needs schools, how can Advanced Placement be a priority?

  4. Sci High 4 FOUNDATION: Why focus on AP? 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.

  5. Sci High 5 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

  6. Sci High 6 Big Goals of AP • Increase exposure to rigor (# of students enrolled) • Increase AP success (# of 2’s and qualifying scores) • Increase post-secondary performance (college persistence)

  7. Sci High 7 Three Tiers of Open- Enrollment Advanced Placement Program Tier 3: Students who enroll in AP and earn “college credit” (3,4, or 5) Tier 2: Students enroll in AP and score “college ready,” (2) Tier 1 : Students who enroll in AP rigor and score 1

  8. Sci High Tiers 1-3 in AP scores over 5 years 4 tests 4 out of 361 students

  9. Sci High Tiers 1-3 in AP scores over 5 years

  10. Sci High Tiers 1-3 in AP scores over 5 years

  11. Sci High Tiers 1-3 in AP scores over 5 years 197 tests 122 out of 370 students

  12. Sci High Tiers 1-3 in AP scores over 5 years 259 tests 151 out of 369 students

  13. Sci High Tiers 1-3 in AP scores over 5 years 280 tests 171 out of 394 students

  14. Sci High 14 Tiers 1-3 in AP scores over 5 years

  15. 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.

  16. Sci High 15 How To Build a Program • Years 1 & 2: exposure, growth • Years 3 - 6: rigor, support • Years 7+: quality, longevity

  17. Sci High 16 Years 1 & 2: Logistics

  18. Sci High 16 Years 1 & 2: Logistics Administrators attend APSI and research AP programs • Collegeboard’sSpotlight 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

  19. Sci High 17 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

  20. Sci High 18 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

  21. Sci High 20 Years 3 & 4: Logistics

  22. Sci High 20 Years 3 & 4: Logistics 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

  23. Sci High 21 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

  24. Sci High 22 Years 3 & 4: Culture Shift

  25. Sci High 22 Years 3 & 4: Culture Shift 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

  26. Sci High 22 Years 3 & 4: Culture Shift 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

  27. Sci High 24 Years 5 & 6: Looking Forward

  28. Sci High 24 Years 5 & 6: Looking Forward Logistics • Curriculum teams, vertical alignment • Identifying areas of low performance (begin using PSAT) • Build back to 9th grade

  29. Sci High 24 Years 5 & 6: Looking Forward 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?

  30. Sci High 25 Our AP Course Offering Progression Next year: Computer Science and Human Geography…?

  31. Sci High 26 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: dfrench@noscihigh.org • Collegeboard conferences • Local network - visit schools with AP programs

  32. Sci High 27 Questions? LOGISTICS: building a program CULTURE: shifting the focus SciHigh Contact: Laney French, dfrench@noscihigh.org

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