1. 2016-17 School Year Methacton High School Mrs. Ladson
AP US Government
School Year
Methacton High School
Mrs. Ladson

2. Agenda/Topics to Be Covered
Resources for Parents
Personal Background
Course Goals
Resources (texts, etc.)
What have we done so far this year?
Curriculum Units
Classroom Policies/Grading
Preparation for the AP Test

3. Resources for Parents Mrs. Ladson’s website
Notes, projects, grading rubrics, etc. will be posted
Due Dates for assignments, tests, etc. are posted via sapphire
AP Program information on MHS website
Can sign up for text message announcements such as test sign-ups, payments, etc.

4. Personal Background - Education
Methacton School District Grad (1986)
Penn State University Undergraduate degree in Secondary Education Social Studies (1990)
Chestnut Hill College – Master’s Degree in Technology in Education (1998)
Numerous continuing education classes on politics and government

5. Personal Background – Work Experience
Christina School District, Delaware
Taught 7th and 8th grade American history and a criminal law elective.
Arcola Intermediate School from
7th grade ancient world history.
Chestnut Hill College from
Taught undergraduate education classes focusing on technology use.
Methacton High School present
Currently teaching AP US and Honors level Government classes.

6. Class Goals
Provide an overview of how the US government/democracy functions.
Strong focus on current events in US politics
Take part in “political labs” activities to develop a stronger understanding of concepts discussed in class and the text.
Mock political parties
Mock elections
Mock city council
Mock congress
Debates and Seminars
Students will further develop their own personal ideology on various topics discussed in class and become a more knowledgeable and active citizen.
Prepare students for the AP US Government exam that takes place in May.

7. Texts and Readings American Government
1 text that stays at home for homework assignments (2 years old)
AP College Board approved text
Lanahan Reader on American Politics
Collection of various articles – recent and classic - that coordinates with our curriculum
AP approved
Various up-to-date articles on topics being discussed in class.

8. Additional Resources Annual Editions Reading series
American Government
Local and State government
Computer labs are used a lot to utilize current news and simulation websites

9. What have we done so far this year?
Economic Policy
Tax revenues for local, state and national governments
Income taxes
Capital gains
Sales
Property tax
Federal government budget process (fiscal policy)
Deficit spending
Budget simulation
How does the government try to regulate the economy in general? (monetary policy)
Federal Reserve (Interest rates, reserves, bond rates)
Economic Theories (Keynesian, Reaganomics, supply-side tax cuts, etc.

10. What have we done so far this year?
Personal Finance
Borrowing money and loans
Credit ratings
Personal investments

11. What have we done so far this year?
Domestic Policy
Social Security
Medicare/Medicaid/Affordable Care Act
Unemployment
Aid to low income families
Welfare, Medicaid, food stamps, housing assistance, Head Start, etc.
Education Policy (charters, vouchers, No Child Left Behind, Race to the Top)
Environmental Policy

12. What have we done so far this year?
American Ideology and Public Opinion Unit
Overview of American Ideology
Conservative
Moderate
Liberal
Libertarian
Ideology self-test provides feedback about their own ideology.

13. Major Units - Semester 1 Interest Groups (summer) Media (summer)
Policy Unit
Economic
Domestic/Social
Political Participation, Ideology, Public Opinion
Political Parties
Elections and Campaigns
Constitution
Judicial Branch
A full class syllabus is available on-line through my teacher website.

14. Major Units – Semester 2 Civil Liberties and Rights Congress
Presidency
Bureaucracy (federal departments and agencies)
Federalism
Intensive AP Test Prep

15. After the AP Test Mock City Council Simulation
Mock Trial – serves as final

16. Grading Policy Grading MHS Academic Code will be enforced.
80% - quizzes, tests, projects
Tests and quizzes need to be made up within one week.
Late projects lose a letter grade, every day they are late.
10% Homework
No late work unless student is sick – then only two days per day absent.
10% Class participation
5% verbal which is tracked at least 3X a week by teacher.
5% is written assignments completed in class and handed in to the teacher.
MHS Academic Code will be enforced.

17. Classroom Policies
Biggest concern is make up work from missed classes.
Two days make up for every day sick.
“Educational travel” includes trips to visit colleges, field trips, etc. – All work needs to be gathered ahead of time and is due when the student returns.
MHS official limit for educational travel is one week.
Will be flexible within reason.
Please be aware of cumulative effect of missed school days.

18. AP Test Information AP Program information on MHS website
Can sign up for text message announcements such as test sign-ups, payments, etc.

19. Preparation for AP Test
Entire curriculum (including resources) was approved through a College Board (AP) audit.
Text assignments for all of the chapters in the AP approved text.
Tests and essays are in AP style
Review sessions and practice tests starting in April.
Actual test date is Thursday, May 4.

20. What is the format of the AP US Gov. test ?
Part I – 60 multiple choice questions (45 minutes)
Part II – 4 free response essays ( 100 min.)
Sign-ups are in February.
Payment by end of March.
Actual test date for 2016 is Tuesday May 10 (morning session)
Test make-ups will be hard to schedule

21. AP US GOV Test Results
Students taking the test (Ladson only) 72
Average score was a over a 3.6 out of 5 .
MHS (Ladson) students % passing (3 or higher) = 93% (national average is usually about 50%)
MHS students National %
5’s-13 (about 18%) (around 10%)
4’s-22 (31%) (around 15%)
3’s-32 (44 %) (around 25%)
2’s- 4 (6 %) (around 25%)
1’s- 1 (about 1%) (around 25%)
49% of my students earned a 4 or 5

22. 2013-2014 AP US GOV Test Results 74% of my students earned a 4 or 5.
Students taking the test (Ladson only) 69
Average score was a over a 4 (4.13) out of 5 .
MHS (Ladson) students % passing (3 or higher) = 94% (national average is usually about 50%)
MHS students National %
5’s-32 (about 46%) (around 10%)
4’s-19 (28%) (around 15%)
3’s-14 (19%) (around 25%)
2’s- 3 (4 %) (around 25%)
1’s- 1 (less than 1%) (around 25%)
74% of my students earned a 4 or 5.

23. 2012-2013 AP US GOV Test Results 64% of my students earned a 4 or 5.
Students taking the test (Ladson only) 75
Average score was a “4” (3.8) out of 5 .
MHS (Ladson) students % passing (3 or higher) = 83% (national average is usually about 50%)
MHS students National %
5’s-25 (about 33%) (around 10%)
4’s-23 (31%) (around 15%)
3’s-14 (19%) (around 25%)
2’s- 13 (17%) (around 25%)
1’s-0 (0%) (around 25%)
64% of my students earned a 4 or 5.

24. 2011-2012 AP US GOV Test Results Students taking the test (Ladson) 64
Average score was a “4” (3.72)
MHS (Ladson) students % passing (3 or higher) = 92% (national average is usually about 50%)
MHS students National %
5’s-15 (about 23%) (around 10%)
4’s-22 (34%) (around 15%)
3’s-22 (34%) (around 25%)
2’s-4 (6%) (around 25%)
1’s-1 (<2%) (around 25%)
57% of my students earned a 4 or 5 on the test.

25. 2010-2011 AP US GOV Test Results MHS students National %
Students taking the test (Ladson) 47
Average score was a “4” (4.043)
MHS (Ladson) students % passing (3 or higher) = 96% (national average was 51.6%)
MHS students National %
5’s-22 (47%) %
4’s-7 (15%) %
3’s-16 (34%) %
2’s-2 (4%) %
1’s %
62% of my students earned a 4 or 5 on the test.

26. 2009-2010 AP US GOV Test Results Students taking the test – 66
Average score was a “4”
MHS students % passing (3 or higher) = 93%
MHS students PA % National %
5’s-23 (35%) 16% 12%
4’s-15 (23%) 15% 13%
3’s-23 (35%) 28% 26%
2’s-5 (8%) 21% 24%
1’s % 25%
58% of my students earned a 4 or 5

27. 2008-2009 AP US GOV Test Results Methacton 5’s— 27 (59%) 4’s— 15 (33%)
Students taking the test– 46
Methacton
5’s— 27 (59%)
4’s— 15 (33%)
3’s —3 (7%)
2’s— 1 (1%)
* 92% of my students earned a 4 or 5

28. 2007-2008 AP US GOV Test Results Methacton Students vs. State Average
Students taking the test– 56
Methacton Students vs. State Average
5’s—26 (%46) %15
4’s— 4 (%7) %17
3’s—22 (39%) %28
2’s— 4 (7%) %24