<p>nightchef:</p>
<p>I’m not advocating for “AP for everyone”. Never have. I have seen though, literally dozens and dozens of kids on my caseload at our school who’ve had to jump through a myriad of hoops just to be “allowed” to take an AP class find success, in both the class and on the test. These kids, in situation after situation were doubted by most of the adults around them, yet they wanted to challenge themselves. In 13 years, I’ve literally never had a situation with one of these kids who got less than a “B” or a “3” on the exam. In recent years, we’ve opened the door a bit and the same thing has happened. A few kids on the edge want to try it, they take it and are successful. Now, there’s definitely a limit to that, I agree.</p>
<p>Kids certainly need to be carefully counseled by the adults around them on what AP is all about, how much work they are going to have to do, etc. Some kids will decide they don’t want to take AP after finding all of this out. This isn’t gate-keeping, though, this is informing.</p>
<p>Gate-keeping is not allowing a student to take an AP course because they scored in the 84th%ile on some test and not the 85th. Gate-keeping by definition, is done “rigidly” and “simple-mindedly”. Practices that are cautious and allow parents and students to make up there own mind after they have all the facts aren’t gate-keeping, they’re a best practice. Gate-keeping by it’s very nature, is hard and fast, black and white. Is that what you’re advocating? </p>
<p>The school I’m at has 4,400 students. We have guidlines for every AP and Honors class but if a student wishes to take the course even though they aren’t recommended they (and their parents) can sign a waiver which states that they understand what they are getting into and they are committed to sticking with the class for at least a semester.</p>
<p>Even though we are huge school, we are able to counsel kids in and, yes, out of signing up for AP classes. I personally suggest that students scale back, if I feel it’s too much for them to handle. My school used to gate-keep. Under our previous ‘rules’ it wouldn’t matter what a student, their teacher, parents or I said, if they didn’t meet certain arbitrary standards, they were not allowed to take an AP course. Period. I’ve seen gate-keeping up close and personal and its not good for students. </p>
<p>As far as the U of Texas study, they did not study the openness of the AP programs at the schools, they studied testing results (if students took the class/ test) and college outcomes. HOW the students got into the class wasn’t the point of the study. The study was looking at students who took AP vs. students who didn’t take AP (and whether they passed an AP test or not) and college outcomes. If you want to dismiss the results, go ahead but there hasn’t been anyone in the academic community who has disputed the findings of the study or the independance of the practicioners. The state of Texas has the best tracking system from HS through college and, therefore, several previous AP studies have been done by U of TX.</p>