Advanced Academics in TISD January 2014

1. Advanced Academics in TISD January 2014 J

2. Prepare Now to Succeed in College A recent U.S. Department of Education study found that the strongest predictor of college graduation is something students do before they ever go to college: participate in rigorous, college-level courses in high school.

3. Definition of Advanced Placement • Advanced Placement (AP) – a rigorous academic program offered to high school students enabling them to earn university credit with a qualifying score on the AP exam for their specific subject. • The content of the course is determined by a course syllabus that is approved by the College Board, a national organization.

4. Definition of Advanced Placement • Instructors are high school teachers who have completed 30 hours of GT credit • Instructors are trained in special summer institutes that provide instructional approaches to increase student success. • Training is recommended every other year.

5. Definition of Dual Credit • Dual Credit (DC) – a program offered to high school students enabling them to earn credit through Lone Star College. • The course syllabus for each DC course is generated by the departments at Lone Star College. • Instructors must have a Master’s degree and 18 hr. of graduate credit in the content area.

6. Benefits of Advanced Academics – College Readiness • Quality points are awarded to students who successfully pass an advanced academics course. These points help to raise a student’s GPA and class rank. • Advanced academics course work is required for students desiring college admission based on their place in the top 10% of the graduating class. • Students may earn college credit by passing an advanced academics course.

7. Benefits of Advanced Academics:College Admission Preference • 85% of selective colleges and universities report that a student’s enrollment in Advanced Placement classes favorably impacts admission decisions. • Admissions officers want to see AP on the student transcript. • Enrollment in advanced academic courses prepares students for college work.

8. University of Texas “We look highly upon both types of classes, but would say that there is a slight preference for AP classes although both are very good on a student’s transcript.” (University of Texas Admissions Officer, January 2014)

9. Texas A&M • “We don’t look for a particular type of course. We do look at the student’s performance at high school and their GPA. • We review student scores on the AP exams. • “DC courses must be transferable. Many do not transfer.” (Texas A&M Admissions Officer, January 2014) • Dual Credit courses are reviewed by the department that represents the student’s intended major. The decision to accept a course for transfer is made on a case-by-case basis.

10. Benefits of Advanced Academics –Financial • Students may earn college credit, but at a reduced cost • Students are more likely to complete a college degree on time because they are academically prepared

11. Good Candidates for Advanced Academics • Embrace higher-level, analytical thinking • Handle demanding reading, both content and amount • Not put off by writing assignments that are, at a level not previously expected • Efficient note-takers • Willing to devote enough time to advanced academic work

12. Profile of the Student Who Should Take an Advanced Placement Course • Ready to work at the higher level of rigor and faster pace of a university course • Above grade level in reading, and the specific content area of the AP course • Above grade level in writing skills, especially for English and social studies

13. Profile of the Student Who Should Take an Advanced Placement Course • Students whose interests match courses in the areas the student wants to pursue as a career • Students whose families agree to have them work with college level content.

14. Profile of the Student Who Should Take a Dual Credit Course • Students who would like to begin their college transcript at the community college level since all credit earned in DC becomes part of the student’s official college transcript. • Students who score at the TSI standard to be eligible for Dual-Credit work (TSI is a placement exam.)

15. Profile of the Student Who Should Take a Dual Credit Course • Students who would like to earn college credit in subjects that will not be part of their college major. • Note:Students who do not qualify for DC, should seek enrollment in the new partnership courses. • Partnership courses provide college prep for Lone Star admission: • Advanced Integrated Reading and Writing • College Prep Math • Students who do not qualify for Dual Credit should not enroll in Advanced Placement.

16. Earning Credit Advanced Placement • Students who successfully meet the criteria for earning college credit, (3, 4 or 5 on an AP exam ) may earn college credit at the college of their choice • Students who pass the AP course and take the AP exam will receive quality points that are used to calculate GPA. Note: These quality points will not be reflected in the report card grade. • Students who do not take the AP exam are not eligible for quality points.

17. Earning Credit Advanced Placement • If a student enrolled in an AP course scores a 1 or 2 on the AP exam, then no college credit is awarded. • AP exams are offered once a year in May. They consist of multiple choice questions and free response questions.

18. Earning Credit Dual Credit • In order to receive college credit, the DC student must earn an A, B, or C in the course. • The student whose grade is a D or F in DC is will be removed from that Dual Credit course as well as all other Dual Credit courses in which he/she is enrolled.

19. Earning Credit Dual Credit • Once a student is removed from a Dual Credit course, he/she is not eligible to enroll in any other DC courses. • Note: The grade earned in a Dual Credit course for high school credit may not be the same grade earned for Lone Star College credit since the high school course holds the student responsible for both state standards for high school and college learning outcomes.

20. Earning Credit CAUTION: • If a student is involved in a disciplinary infraction that requires placement in an alternative setting for an extended period of time, the student will automatically be removed from the advanced course for the remainder of the school year. • It is not likely that a university will automatically accept credit for either type of course. All advanced academic credit earned at the high school level will be reviewed at the university level within specific departments. For instance, a College of Engineering may determine that they will only accept an AP score of 4 or 5 and a DC grade of A or B only. Parents will be notified of the credit awarded.

21. Earning Credit CAUTION: • If a student at a Texas public university exceeds 150 hours of college credit, that student may be asked to pay out of state tuition if and when he or she exceeds 150 credit hours, including dual credit hours earned in high school. • Example:  A student has 40 DC hours, but if his university graduation plan requires an additional 120 hours, he may have to pay out-of-state tuition.

22. Student/Family Responsibility • Check university guidelines for freshmen admission. Regularly check the guidelines for your child’s top three choices. These often change, so stay abreast of requirements. • Check the College Board Big Future website. • No Pass/No Play – Students may have a grade of 60 in two advanced courses and still remain UIL eligible. • AP – Be prepared to pay for the AP exam. (Cost for 2014 is $89.00). https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/

23. Student/Family Responsibility • AP– Be prepared to pay for AP materials, e.g. review guides, supplemental books. • DC – Be prepared to check eligibility. • Candidates must be juniors or seniors who have passed their EOC assessments. • Meet the high school deadline for taking the TSI test. (Cost of test is $30.00) • Apply for admission to Lone Star College by the high school deadline. • Be prepared to pay LSC course tuition, textbook, and fees. • Turn in all required forms to the high school counselor before the deadline.

24. 2014 - 2015 AP/DC English AP • AP English Language & Composition • AP English Literature & Composition DC • English III DC English Language & Composition • English IV DC English Language & Composition • English IV DC English Literature & Composition

25. 2014-2015 AP/DC Social Studies AP • AP World History • AP Macroeconomics • AP US Government & Politics • AP Psychology • AP US History DC • DC US History • DC US Government

26. 2014-2015 AP/DCMathematics AP • AP Statistics • AP Calculus AB • AP Calculus BC • AP Computer Science A DC • DC Statistics • DC Calculus I • DC Calculus I & II • DC Independent Study College Algebra

27. 2014-2015 AP/DC Science AP • AP Biology • AP Chemistry • AP Physics 1 • AP Physics 2 • AP Physics C • AP Environmental Science DC • DC Biology • DC General Chemistry • DC Anatomy & Physiology of Human Systems

28. 2014-2015 AP/DC Languages Other than English (LOTE) AP • AP French IV • AP German IV • AP Spanish Literature (Sp. IV) • AP Spanish Language (Sp. V) DC • DC Spanish III

29. 2014-2015 AP/DCFine Arts AP • AP Art Drawing • AP Studio Art 2-D Design • AP Studio Art 3-D Design • AP Music Theory DC None

30. Questions