Who benefits from the expansion of AP classes?
Priscilla Castro
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/07/magazine/who-benefits-from-the-expansion-of-ap-classes.html
The College Board persuaded politicians and policy makers that A.P. classes and tests are one of the best ways to raise standards in poorer schools. "What started as a program for accelerating the education of gifted students is now being used as a means of broadening access to challenging material, "Chester Finn says, a former assistant secretary of education. Federal and state governments cumulatively have spent hundreds of millions of dollars on A.P. tests and teacher training. However, the percentage of students scoring between 2 and 5 remained is fairly stable, the percentage of students scoring 1 has grown to 19 percent from 12 percent. Diane Ravitch, a former assistant secretary of education appointed by President George H.W. Bush puts it succinctly: “The A.P. has become a cash cow for the College Board. If it really wants to promote equity, offer the tests for free.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/07/magazine/who-benefits-from-the-expansion-of-ap-classes.html
The College Board persuaded politicians and policy makers that A.P. classes and tests are one of the best ways to raise standards in poorer schools. "What started as a program for accelerating the education of gifted students is now being used as a means of broadening access to challenging material, "Chester Finn says, a former assistant secretary of education. Federal and state governments cumulatively have spent hundreds of millions of dollars on A.P. tests and teacher training. However, the percentage of students scoring between 2 and 5 remained is fairly stable, the percentage of students scoring 1 has grown to 19 percent from 12 percent. Diane Ravitch, a former assistant secretary of education appointed by President George H.W. Bush puts it succinctly: “The A.P. has become a cash cow for the College Board. If it really wants to promote equity, offer the tests for free.”
Do you see AP classes as an effective way to gain access to challenging material, or a way for the college board to gain easy cash? Explain.
ReplyDeleteI think I would see AP classes benefit you to experience college level courses, but the AP exam is the only thing that's run by the College Board. The AP courses are weighted, and will increase the GPA more than regular courses would. I have taken one AP course, AP Calculus AB in 12th grade and passed it. I have also passed the AP exam. Now, that I'm in college, the current calculus course that I'm taking would have been even harder if I had taken regular calculus instead of AP calculus.
DeleteAlthough college board gains money through AP class, I would see AP classes as a way to help us on college courses. I took AP Calculus AB during my high school, and I gained a score of 3. Since I am now in the Mathematics major, Calculus is the course I need to take. AP score help me jump over Calculus AB and directly get into Calculus BC, that help me save my time and I can take other classes instead of study the same knowledge.
DeleteI think having AP class in high school, is very good for the student. Because some of the student are much more advanced than the other student in the campus, and they are ready for college material. Same time is saving college money. Taking college course in high school, the only requirement is need to pass the AP exam for saving thousands dollar in college. Same time challenging the student using harder material. I think taking AP class will help in college life.
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