Innovative Strategies to Improve AP Student Participation and Performance

1. Innovative Strategies to Improve AP Student Participation and Performance 2010 College Board Forum Baltimore County Public Schools Dr. Joe A. Hairston, Superintendent October 28, 2010

2. Your AP Questions Please write questions you have relative to this workshop. Place the questions on the Parking Lot Charts on the wall.

3. Objectives • To present system and school-based strategies relative to socio-economic, gender, and ethnic factors to improve Advanced Placement (AP) participation and performance. • To provide opportunities for participants to share effective AP strategies.

4. About Baltimore County Public Schools. . . BCPS wraps around but does not include Baltimore City. With almost 800,000 residents, Baltimore County is diverse with residents living in suburban, rural, and urban neighborhoods reflecting the nation’s blend of cultures and backgrounds.

5. About Baltimore County Public Schools - An Overview • 27th largest school system in the U.S. • 103, 832 students • 39.3% eligible for free/reduced meals • 52.2% minority enrollment • 3.5% English Language Learners • 173 schools, and programs, and centers

6. About Baltimore County Public Schools-An Overview • More than 7,400 graduates • 88% of graduates immediately pursue higher education • 88.4 million in scholarships reported by 2010 graduates

7. Superintendent’s Message

8. Blueprint for Progress Performance Goal 1 Improving achievement for all

9. Blueprint for Progress Performance Indicators • All high schools will meet or exceed the national average of 7.0% participation rate on the AP examinations. (1.13) • All high schools will have at least 70% of their students who take AP exams achieve passing scores. (1.14)

10. Challenges to Access and Rigor • Changing demographics • Cultural differences • Gender issues • Varied learning styles and preferences

11. BCPS’ Systemic Approaches • Begin with systemwide standards and high expectations (Blueprint for Progress). • Align standards with rigorous curriculum. • Develop English and math SAT readiness course Sequence.

12. BCPS’ Systemic Approaches • Eliminate low level courses. • Establish partnership with College Board (2000) • Use College Board standards to update rigorous curriculum.

13. BCPS’ Systemic Approaches • Align disaggregated data to instructional skills (PSAT/SOAS). • Use BCPS’ Cognos Data Warehouse • Collaborate with curriculum and instruction; research, accountability, and assessment; professional development; and AVID/College Board office staffs.

14. BCPS’ Systemic Approaches • Set a minimum number of AP courses each high school is expected to offer. (BCPS’ standard, 12 AP courses). • Identify highly qualified AP teachers. • Empower AP school coordinators’ leadership at school sites.

15. BCPS’ Systemic Approaches • Coordinate annual 5-day College Board AP Summer Institute-Goucher College. • Schedule parallel AP courses with gifted and talented (GT) courses.

16. BCPS’ Systemic Approaches • Establish AP review course six weeks before AP exam. • Plan AP Summer Bridge Programs. • Use AP Potential Roster-early identification.

17. BCPS’ Systemic Approaches • Provide customized support to targeted schools. • Facilitate continuous systemic professional development. (2010-2011 BCPS and College Board Professional Development Calendar)

18. AP Results • Multi - year continuous improved AP participation and performance (See Chart.) • 2009-2010 • 8.1% participation increase with a total of 9,750 students • 4.9 % performance increase with a total of 6, 475 students having AP scores of 3-5.

19. AP Results • Average of 17 AP courses at each high school • One-third of all high schools offer 20or more AP courses

20. AP Mathematics StrategiesOverlea High School • BCPS’ mathematics curriculum • Classroom instructional support

21. AP Mathematics StrategiesOverlea High School • Progress from standard to AP courses • Coordinate Saturday AP instructional support • Facilitate AP teacher network groups

22. AP Mathematics StrategiesOverlea High School • Student Cohort • Technology Infusion-Wikis • Ed-Line

23. Changing the Culture-One School’s Story Chesapeake High School • Shift to student driven course offerings. • Eliminate class size as AP enrollment factor. • Change from school counselor as AP coordinator to content specific teacher. • Adjust limits on AP exam participation to inviting all students who are academically ready to participate.

24. Changing the Culture-One School’s StoryChesapeake High School • Set high expectations for teachers. • Involve department chairpersons and leadership team members in the planning and delivery of the professional development process.

25. Changing the Culture-One School’s Story Chesapeake High School Participation

26. Changing the Culture-One School’s Story Chesapeake High School Achievement

27. Changing the Culture-One School’s Story Chesapeake High School Course Offerings

28. At Chesapeake High School, all really means ALL: ALL students ALL faculty Change is a total school effort. Changing the Culture-One School’s Story Chesapeake High School

29. Pause-Initiating Your AP Plan In the table group, share some AP strategies you learned and/or effective strategies your school or school system uses. (10 minutes)

30. Pause-Initiating Your AP Plan • Review sample school and teacher AP Improvement Plans. • Agree upon 2 unique and effective AP strategies you shared in your table group. • Write the strategies on the AP Improvement Template. • One person reports for the table group.

31. Increasing AP Access StrategiesDulaney High School School Goal: • Access for all in rigorous courses • All students taking one AP by Grade 12 • Data shows 30.3% of total school population took one or more AP exams. • Only 10.3% African American students took one or more AP exams.

32. Increasing AP Access StrategiesDulaney High School • Target Populations • African Americans • Grade 9 Students

33. Strategies for Creating a Rigorous Learning Environment for All • Organize a One Academic Environment for Grade 9 & 10 English and social studies classes. • Register students for standard or honors and assign to the same class. • Offer AP courses to Grade 9 and 10 students: AP Biology, AP World History, and AP Psychology.

34. One Academic EnvironmentDulaney High School • Promote diversity within each class. • Encourage teachers to learn and use differentiated instruction.

35. One Academic EnvironmentDulaney High School Implementation • Locate Grade 9 and 10 content specific classes in a designated hall. • Provide a common lunch time for planning. • Conference with parents to determine students’ academic levels.

36. Providing Student Support • Write-Accel/Excel Grants. • Hire college student tutors. • Recruit retired teachers as volunteers. • Organize parent committees to support academics.

37. Preparing Grade 8 Students for AP Biology • How do students become eligible? • Maryland State Assessments Scores and teachers’ recommendations • Interviews with middle school students

38. Preparing Grade 8 Students for AP Biology • How are students and families prepared? • Schedule a parent informational meeting during Grade 8 students’ second semester • Notify students and parents of acceptance. • Begin one week Bridge Course during the summer.

39. Student Success with AP Biology in Grade 9 AP pass rates over 4 years. . . . . • Fifty-four students scored 5’s • Seven students scored 4’s

40. Improving AP Success for African American Males-Woodlawn High School Initiate in 2009-2010, Advancement via Individual Determination (AVID) African American Male Initiative, Grade 9 class.

41. Improving AP Success for African American Males Implement AVID curriculum. • Writing skills • Time management skills • Organizational skills • Study skills • Speaking skills

42. Improving AP Success for African American Males Infuse “culturally relevant teaching” components in the lesson • Establishing inclusion • Developing a positive attitude • Enhancing meaning • Engendering competence Ginsberg, M., Wlodkowski, R.J. (2000). A motivational framework for culturally responsive teaching:Creating highly motivational classrooms for all students (Chapter 4) . John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

43. Improving AP Success for African American Males Support Systems • African American male AVID teacher: academic coach and mentor • College tutors • College visits • Parent meetings • Business and community speakers and role models

44. Improving AP Success for African American Males - Data Results

45. Improving AP Success for African American Males-Data Results • GPA 2.3 • Attendance97.6% • AAMI Grade 10 Enrollment 23

46. Improving AP Success for African American Males-Data Results • Grade 10 Cohort - AP Enrollment5 • Grade 10 Cohort - GT Enrollment 10 • Grade 10 Cohort – Honors Classes 17

47. Johns Hopkins University

48. Questions and Answers How can we help you?

49. References and Resources • www.collegeboard.com • http://professionals.collegeboard.com/k-12/assessment/ap/build (Building your AP program) • http://professionals.collegeboard.com/k-12/assessment/ap/equity Ensuring equity access to AP at your school)

50. References and Resources • http://professionals.collegeboard.com/k-12/assessment/ap/plan/motivating (How to get students excited about AP courses and exams) • AP Release Exams