Participation in Texas Schools' Advanced Placement Program on Increase - Minorities Underrepresented
The rigorous coursework in the Advanced Placement (AP) program has proven to build a good foundation for high school students, who plan to attend college after graduation. Most college and universities give course credit for AP exam scores of three or higher — students score from one to five on the exam. Even students who score one or two on the exam have proven to be better prepared for college-level work, than students who do not participate in the program.
A report by the national College Board, which oversees the AP program across the nation, was recently released. It showed the number of students taking the exams and the diversity representation, though it concentrates only on Hispanic, African American, and Native American student groups.
For the Texas schools, participation in the AP exams has increased by 61 percent since the year 2001. Hispanics and African American students, however, were underrepresented in the AP exams.
Texas schools African Americans students had the biggest gap between total student population in the state and the percentage taking the AP exams. The African American students make up 13.5 percent of the total population, but only 6.8 percent took the exams — a disparity of almost half of the African American students opting not to participate in the AP program.
The Hispanic gap is closing in the Texas schools with 35 percent Hispanic students in the total population and 32.2 percent taking the exams.
The Texas schools have totally eliminated any gap for its Native American students with 0.3 percent of the population and 0.5 percent taking the AP exams.
Texas schools' Commissioner of Education Shirley J. Neeley stated that they need to do a better job encouraging its minority students in middle school, so that they elect to take the AP classes and exams in high school.
The Texas schools students taking AP exams last year were 54,706 Caucasians, 34,976 Hispanics, 10,007 Asian Americans, 6,826 African Americans, 514 Native Americans, and 5,234 who marked "other" or gave no response for ethnicity. Minorities and "other" made up about 49 percent of the Texas schools testing population, as compared to the national average of 33.5 percent.
There were 204,403 AP exams taken by Texas schools students last year, many taking multiple exams. They scored three or higher on 99,428 of them. The Texas schools designated:
• 8,861 students as AP Scholars for scoring three or higher on three or more exams;
• 3,152 as AP Scholars with Honors for:
An average score of at least 3.25 on all exams, and
Scores of three or higher on four or more exams;
• 4,447 as AP Scholars with Distinction for:
An average score of at least 3.5 on all exams, and
Scores of three or higher on five or more exams;
The national College Board named 752 Texas schools students as National Scholars for earning an average score of at least four on all exams, with scores of four or higher on eight or more AP exams.
Though these results are impressive, the Texas schools know they must continue to expand the overall enrollment, as well as increase the diversity levels in the AP program. State incentives make the AP program more accessible to students by lowering the per exam fee by $30, so that no student pays more than $52 for an AP exam. Further, combined funding from federal, state and local subsidies reduces the per exam fee to only $5 for low-income students.
Additionally, the Texas schools have expanded its course offerings to entice more students to participate and used state incentives to train more teachers for the AP program.
With post-graduation success depending so much on a college degree, the AP coursework and exams are essential for all students to succeed in college. Minorities must be equally represented in Advanced Placement classes. The Texas schools still have work to do.
T-STEM Initiative a Boost for Texas Schools Students
The T-STEM initiative was launched in December 2005 by the Governor Perry's office in partnership with the Texas schoolsthe Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, National Instruments, and the Communities Foundation of Texas.
The Texas Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (T-STEM) initiative is a $71 million dollar project to better prepare Texas schools students for success in college and the workplace. With the undeniable forward movement towards a global technology-based economy, secondary Texas schools are placing more emphasis on science and mathematics.
Though many Texas schools already are doing an excellent job in these educational areas, the most common reason many Texas schools are graded academically unacceptable by the state is poor science performance. The second most common reason is poor mathematics performance.
In 2005, only 72 percent of the students passed the mathematics portion and only 71 percent passed the science portion of the state's required exit-level Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) exam. The passing rate among the Texas schools major ethnic groups was significantly lower. Only 54 percent of African-American students passed the math portion and only 55 percent passed the science portion. Hispanics did slightly better with 61 percent passing the math and 57 percent the science.
The hopes are that the new T-STEM project will improve current Texas schools student performance in both areas by providing innovative science and mathematics instruction, as well as innovative demonstration sites.
T-STEM will establish 35 small schools or academies, located in high need areas across the state of Texas. These Texas schools will focus on science, mathematics, engineering and technology instruction. From five to six STEM demonstration centers will be developed to transform current teaching methods for the Texas schools educators, as well as train and prepare teachers for these specialized Texas schools. Additionally, the project will establish a statewide network to promote a broad dissemination of practices throughout the Texas schools.
Each new T-STEM Texas schools will include grades 6-12 or will be a high school academy that works with feeder middle schools. Each grade will have about 100 Texas schools students. The focus will be to create personalized, engaging and relevant learning environments.
The enrolled Texas schools students will be required to take four years of mathematics and science with participation in related extra-curricular activities. An internship or project in areas related to science, technology, engineering or mathematics also will be required.
Educators in these Texas schools will be required to work with institutions of higher education to foster partnerships, dual credit classes, and teacher training opportunities.
Funding for the Texas schools T-STEM initiative is $30 million from the state of Texas, $20 million each from the Gates and Dell Foundations, $1 million from National Instruments, and $10 million from the Communities Foundation of Texas, which include leading businesses, foundations and individuals who underscore the significance of these academic areas to the future of our global economy.
100 Texas Schools Invited to Participate in Governor's Educator Excellence Award Program
In November 2005, Governor Rick Perry initiated the $10 million grant program for paying bonuses to school employees who have performed above expectations in raising student performance levels. One hundred Texas schools have been invited to participate in the Governor's Educator Excellence Award Program. To date, 98 have accepted the invitation.
The chosen Texas Schools have a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students. Each school has demonstrated high levels of student achievement or marked student improvement. Each has been rated exemplary or recognized, which are the two top academic ratings that can be awarded to a school under the Texas schools' accountability system; or they have shown strong performance gains in the areas of mathematics and reading.
Each school may apply for a three-year grant as follows:
• Schools with 449 students or less — $60,000 a year grant,
• With 450 to 699 students — $90,000 a year grant,
• 700 to 1,199 student — $135,000 a year grant, or
• 1,200 students or more — $180,000 a year grant.
To maintain eligibility for the grant program, the participating Texas schools must receive ratings of academically acceptable or better. Recommended bonus amounts range from $3,000 to $10,000 per individual.
Each school may develop a customized incentive pay program that fits their individual school, as long as the teachers are involved in its development and under the following guidelines:
• 75 percent of the grant money must be used for classroom teacher incentive pay;
• A classroom teacher must be employed by the Texas schools district and spend an average of four hours each day teaching in an academic setting or career/technology instructional setting;
• Award recipients must improve student performance and exceed academic growth expectations,
• Performance must be determined using objective and quantifiable measures, such as local benchmarking systems, end-of-course tests, and other assessments, and
• Recipients must have collaborated with other faculty and staff members to improve overall student performance at the school.
Athletic coaches are not eligible for the program, unless they also teach and qualify under the classroom teacher guidelines.
The customized incentive pay plans may take into account a teacher's assignment in hard-to-staff areas that are specific to individual school districts. A teacher's initiative and commitment to other activities that directly result in improved student performance also may be considered, such as tutoring students after school.
Some of the possible uses for the remaining 25 percent of the grant money are:
• To provide incentive pay for other school personnel who contribute to increased student achievement,
• Provide training to teachers,
• Support activities for mentoring,
• Teacher induction programs,
• Signing bonuses for teachers in high-need subject areas,
• Activities that support common planning time and curriculum development,
• Proven programs to recruit and retain teachers, and
• Stipends for teachers who participate in after school or Saturday programs, which are designed to improve teaching and learning.
Though 12 percent of the Texas schools' districts have some type of teacher incentive pay program, this is the first state program in almost 20 years. When Texas schools achieve exceptional results, the principals always give credit to their teachers and staffs. The Intent of the Governor's excellence award program is to say a very sincere "thank you" to the teachers and staff who go the extra mile to help students succeed.
