connect to college success TM AP/IB: Hype or Hope? AP Course Audit Effects Midwest Regional Forum February 11, 2008

2 connect to college success TM Why conduct an AP Course Audit? SchoolsExamsStudents ,712843,423537, , million1.3 million Percent increase 37%174%150%

3 connect to college success TM Who participated? The AP community responded in overwhelming numbers to the inaugural, worldwide review of AP courses. Where 105,000 syllabi were anticipated, 141,000 were submitted --- and over 14,000 schools participated. Participant Type Count Teachers135,486 Principals3,066 Administrators9,744 District Officials883 College Faculty839 TOTAL149,179

4 connect to college success TM Who evaluated the syllabi? Nearly 850 college instructors have served as Reviewers and Senior Reviewers For all 37 AP subjects, each reviewer teaches the parallel college course Reviewers undergo training and qualifying experiences before beginning live evaluations

5 connect to college success TM The AP Course Ledger Searchable database of over 136,000 courses in more than 14,000 secondary schools worldwide authorized to carry the AP label Search database by high school, high school code, city, state, and subject Entire database is available for download into admission office systems collegeboard.com/apcourseledger

6 connect to college success TM What are College Faculty Saying About the Course Audit? My experience [conducting the audit] was very encouraging; almost without exception, the syllabi reflected serious preparation and a desire to facilitate learning. That is really what is important. – James Riddlesperger, Senior Faculty Reviewer, U.S. Government, Texas Christian University Some of these syllabi begin with broad themes, and then combine some texts that one might not naturally put together…these unique approaches make me think about the ingenuity of AP teachers. – Bruce Plourde, Senior Faculty Reviewer, English Literature, Temple University

7 connect to college success TM Survey data Effect of the AP Course Audit on the broad range of APs constituents 26,000 AP teacher respondents

8 connect to college success TM Almost 70% of AP teachers believe the Audit has helped college and university faculty gain a better understanding of the content thats covered in their AP course The audit gives college and university professors a better understanding of the content that's covered in my AP course Total responses = 25,952 77% of first-year AP teachers believe the audit gives professors a better understanding of the content thats covered in their AP course 68% agree/strongly agree 59% of GoPo and Economics AP teachers believe the audit gives professors a better understanding of the content thats covered in their AP course

9 connect to college success TM 84% of AP teachers believe that consistency in core learning objectives across courses labeled AP is important... Consistency in core learning objectives across courses labeled "AP" is not important Total responses = 25,975 80% of art and music AP teachers, and 87% of AP math teachers believe that consistency in core learning objectives is important. 84% disagree/strongly disagree

10 connect to college success TM 67% of AP teachers --- and 81% of new AP teachers --- think the audit provided a valuable opportunity to reflect on their course Total Responses = 26,023 The audit provided a valuable and useful opportunity to reflect on my course 67% agree/strongly agree 62% of AP teachers in private schools thought that the audit provided a valuable opportunity to reflect on their course 81% of first-year AP teachers felt the audit provided a valuable opportunity to reflect on their course

11 connect to college success TM 74% of AP teachers believe that the benefits to students of the AP label on college-bound transcripts made the audit process worthwhile The benefits to my students of the AP label on college-bound transcripts make the audit process worthwhile Total responses = 25,995 68% of AP teachers in private schools and 69% of GoPo and Economics AP teachers believe that the benefits to their students make the audit process worthwhile 74% agree/strongly agree

12 connect to college success TM Almost half of AP Teachers felt that they improved their course as a result of the Audit % strongly agree/agree 66% 49% 33 % 18% 14% 13% 11%

13 connect to college success TM 60% of AP teachers that have taught AP from 1-3 years believe they improved their course as a result of their participation in the audit I improved my AP course as a result of the audit 60% strongly agree/agree Total responses = 6809

14 connect to college success TM Nearly one in five AP teachers felt that the Audit alerted them to changes in the AP course or exam that they hadnt yet incorporated into their course The audit alerted me to changes in the AP course or exam that I hadn't yet incorporated into my course Total responses = 25,982 * 21% of AP English teachers felt the Audit alerted them to changes in the AP course or exam that they had not yet incorporated into their course ** 14% of AP math teachers felt the Audit alerted them to changes in the AP course or exam that they had not yet incorporated into their course *** 24% of AP teachers in schools with greater than 50% f/r lunch felt the audit alerted them to changes 18% strongly agree/agree

15 connect to college success TM Student GroupAP Exam Grade of 3, 4, 5 African-American28% higher Hispanic28% higher White33% higher Low-Income26% higher Not Low-Income34% higher Source: Chrys Dougherty, Lynn Mellor, and Shuling Jian, The Relationship Between Advanced Placement and College Graduation (National Center for Accountability 2006) AP and 5-Year College Graduation Rates

16 connect to college success TM Hargrove, Godin, & Dodd Study (in press) Followed 5 cohorts of students in Texas colleges from SAT scores and Reduced Price Lunch status were used as statistical control variables. Students who had taken one or more AP courses in a Texas high school: had higher graduation rates earned a higher subject-area GPA in sequent courses completed more courses in the discipline Earned higher first-year and fourth-year college GPAs (The increase was higher still for students who took both the AP Course and the corresponding AP Exam.)