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 Objectives 1. Foundation: AP as a Priority 2. Defining “Three-Tiered Approach” 3. How-To Guide Years 1 & 2 Years Year 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) Sci High 6

Three Tiers of Open- Enrollment Advanced Placement Program Tier 1 : Students who enroll in AP rigor and score 1 Tier 1 : Students who enroll in AP rigor and score 1 Tier 2: Students enroll in AP and score “college ready,” (2) 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) 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 Sci High 8 4 tests 4 out of 361 students

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

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

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

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

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

Tiers 1-3 in AP scores over 5 years 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 Sci High 15

Years 1 & 2: Logistics Sci High 16

Years 1 & 2: Logistics 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, 11 th and 12 th grade students Sci High 16

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

Years 3 & 4: Logistics Sci High 20

Years 3 & 4: Logistics Early AP Preparation 9 th grade: double-block math and English Math and English intervention classes in th 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/ 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 Sci High 21

Years 3 & 4: Culture Shift 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 Sci High 22

Years 3 & 4: Culture Shift Conversations with students How to talk about a 1 Talking up AP to 9/10 th graders, incoming students (7 th and 8 th ) Inclusive Club: study groups, announcements, t-shirts Faculty buy-in Orientation for new faculty Regular AP meetings Sci High 22

Years 5 & 6: Looking Forward Sci High 24

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

Our AP Course Offering Progression US Government Env. Science World History Statistics Literature US History Biology Calculus AB Chemistry Language 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 Laney French: Collegeboard conferences Local network - visit schools with AP programs Sci High 26

Questions? LOGISTICS: building a program CULTURE: shifting the focus SciHigh Contact: Laney French, Sci High 27