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About AP/Pre-AP Programs

About APTTI

Schedule

General Information

Registration

Links

Belin-Blank Center

Center for Credit Programs

The College Board

Iowa Online Advanced Placement Academy

Advanced Placement Incentive Program

The Advanced Placement Program (AP) is a cooperative educational endeavor between colleges/universities and secondary schools. Nearly 60 percent of all US high schools participate in the program, and some states have mandated that every high school offer one or more AP classes.

AP introduces high school students to college-level material, and then gives them an opportunity to show what they have learned by taking an AP exam—some 2.1 million AP exams were administered worldwide last year alone. College faculty report that AP students are far better prepared for serious academic work. Students who participate in AP courses have a significantly greater chance of graduating with a four-year degree from a college or university. More than 60,000 teachers attended AP workshops or institutes last year, facilitating their efforts to strengthen ongoing AP programs—or launch new programs.

College Board Requirements Have Changed

Before the 2007–2008 academic year, any school wishing to use the AP designation for transcripts, course listings, or other publications must complete a new College Board Audit for each AP course. Our AP Teacher Training Institute (APTTI) will prepare every participant to successfully complete the course audit.

Pre-AP Programs are Vital

To succeed in AP courses, as well as in college, students must have appropriate preparation. Pre-AP programs develop content-specific strategies designed to:

• build challenging curricula, aligned from the middle school through the high school;
• promote access to AP for greater numbers of well-prepared students;
• introduce skills concepts and assessment methods to prepare students for success when they take AP and other challenging courses; and
• strengthen curriculum and increase the academic challenge for all students.

An AP Vertical Team in English or Social Sciences/History is made up of teachers from different grade levels who work together to develop and implement a sequential curriculum in a given discipline. The team's goal is to help students acquire the skills necessary for success in college.

By attending summer institutes, teams of middle school and high school teachers can learn how to prepare students for academic success in AP courses and college. Some teams include elementary school teachers; in addition, district administrators, principals, curriculum coordinators, and guidance counselors can be valuable contributors. Topics include organizing effective teams, aligning curriculum, and developing content-specific teaching strategies.