<p>My school district is one of many affected in this recent lawsuit by ACLU. </p>
<p>Our (former) school grading policy for AP classes is that a score of a 4 or 5 on the AP exam qualifies you for a grade change. Generally, a 4 or 5 allows a student to change both semester grades from a B to an A or a C to a B. As a result of these policies, AP classes here are extremely difficult and getting an A in these classes is almost unheard of. These same policies apply to make other schools in CA. </p>
<p>We received this announcement today, much to our dismay. Effective immediately, there are no more grade changes for AP scores. The argument is that since you need to take the AP exam (which only has a fee reduction, not waiver) for the grade change, and since some people may not be financially capable of paying for the exam, hence the grade change policies are biased against the poor. </p>
<p>[ACLU</a> California Affiliates Announce Major Settlement in School Fees Case](<a href=“http://www.aclu-sc.org/releases/view/103057]ACLU”>http://www.aclu-sc.org/releases/view/103057)</p>
<p>What do you guys think?</p>
<p>
What I don’t understand is why the parents in the community put up with this. Its ridiculous. Talk to any college student or graduate and they’ll tell you that intro courses are often not that difficult (unless you go to Swat or something). And that’s all AP classes are supposed to be. Freshman level college classes. </p>
<p>I understand that there needs to be standards, but it seems like a lot of HS classes are taught at a rigor in terms of homework and study required that is nothing at all like a real freshman class in college. I think parents ought to start demanding the schools justify the intensity and show a comparable college class requiring the same workload.</p>
<p>The argument is that since you need to take the AP exam (which only has a fee reduction, not waiver) for the grade change, and since some people may not be financially capable of paying for the exam, hence the grade change policies are biased against the poor. </p>
<p>Even IF the person can’t pay for it with the fee reduction, there are lots of people and parent communities that would be willing to help them pay for the test. At our school we have community clubs, parent partners, and different ethnic parent associations. They’re all willing to help pay for the AP test, and even if they weren’t, other people can help pitch in. Just get 65 people to each donate a dollar or so to help pay for the test. Because, in the end, and extra dollar to help people get the grade change isn’t much.</p>
<p>It’s just that people sign up for AP classes with the intent of taking the exam, so how could anyone not know about the AP fee? They’re supposed to plan accordingly. If they’re going to extend this to AP, we could very well argue that the same logic could apply to SAT/SATII fees.</p>