<p>This policy really doesn’t make any sense to me. Only 30% have to pass? They’re practically begging schools to cheat the system! Shuffle underqualified black and Hispanic students into AP courses to meet the 30% quota – even if they all fail, at least enough of the other students who are actually supposed to be in these classes will pass to bring the overall pass rate over 30%. (That’s assuming the school is competent. On most AP exams, getting a 40% will earn you a 3. So why are schools being rewarded for sending 70% of their students into a test knowing less than 40% of the material?)</p>
<p>The reason there are so few black and Hispanic students in AP classes is not that theeir schools aren’t encouraging them to take AP classes. It is a much deeper social problem that extends beyond the reach of education policymakers. Black and Hispanic students tend to be lower on the socioeconomic ladder, and they cannot afford to focus on academics – not to mention that they often grow up in bad neighborhoods where they are subject to bad influences. Thus, they are already at a disadvantage in primary school, and the gap only widens as they get older – some need to get jobs to supplement the family income. When you’re working 8 hours a day after 6 hours of school, is it any surprise that you’re not concerned about “challenging yourself academically” and taking AP classes? And yet, the lawmakers’ proposed solution is to force these people to take AP classes. Brilliant.</p>