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.
( BCPS and College Board Professional Development Calendar)

18. AP Results
Multi - year continuous improved AP participation and performance (See Chart.)
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 20 or more AP courses

20. AP Mathematics Strategies Overlea High School
BCPS’ mathematics curriculum
Classroom instructional support

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

22. AP Mathematics Strategies Overlea 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 Story Chesapeake 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. Total Students enrolled in AP Courses Total possible AP Exams Taken
Changing the Culture-One School’s Story Chesapeake High School
Participation
Total Students enrolled in AP Courses 20 84
151
184
232
Total possible AP Exams Taken 44
123
240
292
415

26. Changing the Culture-One School’s Story Chesapeake High School
Achievement
School Year
Grades of 3, 4 or 5 10 8 25 42

27. Total AP Courses Offered
Changing the Culture-One School’s Story Chesapeake High School
Course Offerings
Total AP Courses Offered 6 9 13 16 19

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

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 Strategies Dulaney 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 Strategies Dulaney 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 Environment Dulaney High School
Promote diversity within each class.
Encourage teachers to learn and use differentiated instruction.

35. One Academic Environment Dulaney 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 , 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
Attendance %
AAMI Grade 10 Enrollment 23

46. Improving AP Success for African American Males-Data Results
Grade 10 Cohort - AP Enrollment 5
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
(Building your AP program)
Ensuring equity access to AP at your school)

50. References and Resources
(How to get students excited about AP courses and exams)
AP Release Exams

51. AP Presenters Please contact us!
Janine Holmes, Chesapeake High School
Nancy Brajevich, Overlea High School
Kelly Smith, Dulaney High School
Scott Audlin, Dulaney High School
James Martin, Woodlawn High School
Timothy Hayden, Office of School Counseling
Dr. Jessie Douglas, AVID/College Board office