Introduction
If you like the idea of teaching college classes for high school students, then teaching Advance Placement (AP) classes might just be for you. The College Board's Advanced Placement Program is an extensive program that offers high school students the chance to participate in what the College Board describes as college level classes for a fee, reportedly broadening students' intellectual horizons and preparing them for college work. It also plays a large part in the college admissions process, proving students' intellectual capacity and genuine interest in learning. The program allows many students to gain college credit for high performance on the AP exams, much in the same manner as the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP). Granting credit, however, is at the discretion of the college. Critics of the Advanced Placement Program charge that courses and exams focus on breadth of content instead of depth. Such criticism, however, has not diminished the popularity of the program. There are 2,900 colleges that grant credit and/or advanced standing.
The Curriculum
Advanced Placement is a program in the United States and Canada created by the College Board that offers college-level curriculum and examinations to high school students. American colleges often grant placement and course credit to students who obtain scores above a certain level on the examinations. The College Board has a panel of experts and college-level educators who create the AP curriculum for each subject. For a high school course to achieve AP designation, the College Board must audit it to determine that it satisfies the AP curriculum. If the course is approved, the school may use the AP designation and the course will be publicly listed on the AP Ledger. As of 2012, the AP exam taken most was AP English Language with 443,835 students, while the one taken least was AP Italian Language and Culture with 1,806 students. To see a list of AP classes offered and the curricula available, students and teachers should visit the College Board website. Online AP courses are offered for many of the subjects.
The Students
Many students enroll in AP classes to engage in challenging curriculum, to impress admissions officers, and to save money or secure financial assistance. College admissions officers tend to look favorably upon applicants with AP credit. Also, some colleges use AP test scores to exempt students from introductory coursework. For example, if a student scores well on an English AP exam, s/he might be excused from taking English 101 or the usually mandatory Writing for College class. Considering that individual classes can cost in the thousands, being exempt from certain classes can save students a significant amount of money. It is also important to note that each college's policy is different but most require a minimum score of 3 or 4 to receive college credit. Typically this appears as a "CR" grade on the college transcript, although some colleges and universities will award an A grade for a 5 score. Some countries, such as Germany, that do not offer general admission to their universities and colleges for holders of an American high school diploma without lengthy preparatory courses, will directly admit students who have completed a specific set of AP tests, depending on the subject they wish to study. In addition, completing AP courses help students qualify for various types of scholarships. According to the College Board, 31 percent of colleges and universities look at AP experience when making scholarship decisions.
The History
The College Board, a non-profit organization based in New York City, has run the AP program since 1955. The organization currently develops and maintains guidelines for the teaching of higher-level courses in various subject areas. In addition, it supports teachers of AP courses, and supports universities. These activities are funded through fees charged to students taking AP Exams. In 2006, over one million students took over two million Advanced Placement examinations. Many high schools in the United States offer AP courses, though the College Board allows any student to take any examination, regardless of participation in its respective course. Therefore, home-schooled students and students from schools that do not offer AP courses have an equal opportunity to take the examination.
The Cost
As of the 2013 testing season, exams cost $89 each, though the cost may be subsidized by local or state programs. Financial aid is available for students who qualify for it; the exam reduction is $26 or $28 per exam from the College Board plus an additional $8 rebate per fee-reduced exam from the school. There may be further reductions depending on the state. Out of the $89, $8 goes directly to the school to pay for the administration of the test, which some schools will reduce to lower the cost to the student. On April 3, 2008, the College Board announced that four AP courses – French Literature, Latin Literature, Computer Science AB, and Italian Language and Culture – would be discontinued after the 2008–2009 school year due to lack of funding. Starting July 2013 AP allowed students for the first time to view as well as send their scores online.
The Teachers
High school teachers teaching AP classes can find the job very challenging and rewarding. AP teachers usually have to cover a lot of content in a very short amount of time, which can be stressful. However, teaching AP is also an opportunity to help students engage with demanding coursework and to prepare them for life after high school. It is also important to note that due to the nature of the course, AP students generally tend to be more mature and more focused than their non-AP high school counterparts, which can be a plus when dealing with classroom management. Teachers who decide to take up this challenge are not without help. The College Board provides a lot of assistance to high school teachers, including materials and professional development opportunities around the country.
If you want to teach AP classes, most states will require you to take classes to become AP certified. Be aware that the content in AP classes is very specific—you will not be able to modify the syllabus.