This document summarizes a presentation given at a College Board forum on innovative strategies to improve AP student participation and performance. It discusses Baltimore County Public Schools' systemic approaches, such as aligning standards and curriculum, identifying qualified AP teachers, and providing professional development. It also provides examples of strategies used at specific high schools, like preparing grade 8 students for AP Biology and implementing an AVID program to support African American males. The presentation aims to share effective AP strategies and improve access, participation, and performance in AP courses.

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.
(2010-2011 BCPS and College Board
Professional Development Calendar)

18. AP Results
 Multi - year continuous improved AP
participation and performance (See
Chart.)
 2009-2010
 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. Changing the Culture-One School’s Story
Chesapeake High School
Participation
2006-20 2007-200 2008-200 2009-201 2010-201
07 8 9 0 1
Total
Students
enrolled 20 84 151 184 232
in AP
Courses
Total
possible
AP 44 123 240 292 415
Exams
Taken

26. Changing the Culture-One School’s Story
Chesapeake High School
Achievement
School Year 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010
Grades of 3, 4 or 5 10 8 25 42

27. Changing the Culture-One School’s Story
Chesapeake High School
Course Offerings
2006-2 2007-2 2008-2 2009-2 2010-2
007 008 009 010 011
Total AP
Courses 6 9 13 16 19
Offered

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
 AfricanAmericans
 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 2009-2010, 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
 Establishinginclusion
 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 2.3
 Attendance 97.6%
 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

48. Questions and Answers
How can we help you?

49. References and Resources
 www.collegeboard.com
 http://professionals.collegeboard.com/k-12/as
(Building your AP program)
 http://professionals.collegeboard.com/k-12/as
Ensuring equity access to AP at your
school)

50. References and Resources
 http://professionals.collegeboard.com/k-12/as
(How to get students excited about AP
courses and exams)
 AP Release Exams

51. AP Presenters
Please contact us!
 Janine Holmes, jholmes@bcps.org, Chesapeake High School
 Nancy Brajevich, nbrajevich@bcps.org, Overlea High School
 Kelly Smith, ksmith@bcps.org, Dulaney High School
 Scott Audlin, saudlin@bcps.org, Dulaney High School
 James Martin, jmartin8@bcps.org, Woodlawn High School
 Timothy Hayden, thayden@bcps.org, Office of School Counseling
 Dr. Jessie Douglas, jdouglas@bcps.org, AVID/College Board office