The document provides an overview of the Advanced Placement (AP) program, highlighting its history, course offerings, and benefits for students. It emphasizes that AP courses allow students to engage in college-level studies in high school and can lead to cost savings and improved graduation rates in college. It also addresses the resources available for parents and students to navigate the AP experience effectively.

1. Introduction to
Advanced Placement®
for Parents
Edward Biedermann, Executive Director, Advanced Placement
Gail Kaplan, Professor of Mathematics, Towson University
Kelly Stromberg, AP Capstone Teacher, North Central High School

2. ► Introduce the panelists
► Provide an overview of AP®
► Take a quick tour of exploreap.org
► Hear from the panelists
• What should parents know about AP?
• What is it like in an AP classroom?
• What is the value of AP in higher education?
► Q&A
2
Agenda

3. Dr. Gail Kaplan Kelly Stromberg
► AP teacher, North Central High School,
Spokane, Wash.
► AP courses taught:
► English Language and Composition
► English Literature and Composition
► World History
► European History
► AP Seminar
► AP Research
► Over 20 years of experience teaching AP
► Professor, Department of Mathematics, Towson
University
► Specializes in development and dissemination of
active approaches to learning math.
► Authored articles on the use of projects in the
secondary school classroom.
► Taught AP Calculus for 10 years.
► Winner of the 2001 Presidential Award for
Excellence in Mathematics and Science
Teaching.
► Maryland Senate honored her efforts to “make a
difference in the delivery of mathematical
techniques in the classroom."
Panelists
3

4. 4
AP® Overview

5. ► Since 1955, the AP Program has been delivering excellence in education to
students.
► AP lets students pursue college-level studies in high school — with the
opportunity to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both.
► Taking AP shows college admission officers that students have sought the most
challenging courses available to them.
► Students who score a 3 or higher on AP Exams:
► Are more likely to graduate college on time.
► Have the potential to save time and money through placement and credit-
granting policies.
► Research shows that students who score below a 3 on an AP Exam are also
more likely to graduate college on time.
5
About AP®

6. ► AP students perform well in college courses related to their AP subject.
► AP students — and particularly AP STEM students — are more likely to major in
their AP subject or a related discipline.
► AP students take more — not less — course work in college related to their AP
subject.
► AP students are more likely to graduate in four years.
► AP provides opportunities for underrepresented students to succeed.
What AP can do for your students:
Why AP®?
6

7. ► AP offers 38 courses across seven subject areas.
► Each course is developed by a committee of higher education faculty and expert
AP teachers who ensure that the course reflects college-level expectations.
► The committees define the scope and goals of the AP course, clearly indicating
what students should know and be able to do upon completion of the course.
► The committees work with Educational Testing Service to develop exam
questions. They also write and review the course description for each subject.
► Courses are taught by high school teachers using AP Course Descriptions.
Teachers determine how to best present the content.
► AP Exams are based on the content in the course descriptions. All students take
a standardized exam for each course.
7
Developing and Teaching AP®

8. ► AP® English Language and Composition
► AP English Literature and Composition
8
English

9. ► AP® Calculus AB
► AP Calculus BC
► AP Computer Science A
► AP Computer Science Principles*
► AP Statistics
9
Mathematics
* Launches Fall 2016

10. ► AP® Biology
► AP Chemistry
► AP Environmental Science
► AP Physics 1
► AP Physics 2
► AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
► AP Physics C: Mechanics
10
Science

11. ► AP® Comparative Government and Politics
► AP European History
► AP Human Geography
► AP Macroeconomics
► AP Microeconomics
► AP Psychology
► AP United States Government and Politics
► AP United States History
► AP World History
11
History and Social Sciences

12. ► AP® Art History
► AP Music Theory
► AP Studio Art: 2-D Design
► AP Studio Art: 3-D Design
► AP Studio Art: Drawing
12
Arts

13. ► AP® Chinese Language and Culture
► AP French Language and Culture
► AP German Language and Culture
► AP Italian Language and Culture
► AP Japanese Language and Culture
► AP Latin
► AP Spanish Language and Culture
► AP Spanish Literature and Culture
13
World Languages and Culture

14. ► AP Seminar
► AP Research
14
AP® Capstone

15. 15
Explore AP®

16. ► Explore AP
► AP Courses
► Taking the Exam
► AP Scores
► Credit & Placement
AP® Students
16

17. ► What It Takes
► The AP Experience
► The Rewards
► AP & Your Future
► How to Enroll
► For Parents
Explore AP®
17

18. At exploreap.org, students will find
information on AP courses, including:
► Connections to college majors and
careers
► Conversation starters
► Other related AP courses
► Recommended preparation
► Higher education credit policies
AP® Courses
18

19. Students will learn everything they need
to know about taking the exams, from
signing up to showing up.
► About the Exams
► AP® Calendar
► Exam Policies
► Preparing for the Exam
Taking the Exam
19

20. At the AP Scores page, students can:
► View their scores
► Send scores to colleges
► Get answers to score-related
questions
► Learn about AP Awards
AP® Scores
20

21. AP® scores can earn students valuable
credit and placement in college.
► How to Earn Credit
► Search Credit Policies
► AP and College
Credit & Placement
21

22. 22
Discussion

23. ► What can a student expect in an AP class?
► What strategies help your students succeed in AP?
► What advice do have for parents of those students?
► What types of students have taken your AP class?
► What can first-time AP students do to succeed?
23
What is it like in an AP® classroom?

24. ► What are the benefits of taking AP classes?
► What did AP mean to your AP Calculus students?
► What would you tell a parent or high school student
who hasn’t taken AP?
► How would you best characterize the college students
in your math classes who took AP?
24
What is the value of AP® in higher
education?

25. 25
Q&A

26. Please write your
questions in the Q&A
module on the bottom
right-hand corner of
your screen.
26
Q&A

27. ► For students and parents: exploreap.org
► For international students and parents:
http://international.collegeboard.org/programs/ap-recognition
► Coming soon: More information about College Board parent webinars at
collegeboard.org/parents
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Resources for reference