Increasing the reach of advanced coursework work will help close achievement gaps
LEXINGTON, Ky -- Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence President & CEO Brigitte Blom, AdvanceKentucky Executive Director Anthony Mires, and Executive Director of the Western Kentucky University Center for Gifted Studies Dr. Julia Roberts testified to the Interim Joint Committee on Education today about increasing access to advanced coursework for Kentucky students.
Their testimony included proposing automatic enrollment into Advanced Placement, or AP, and advanced courses for students who meet eligibility requirements based on measurable state standards and other factors. Currently, students must opt in to take these classes; under an automatic enrollment system, they would have to opt out. Automatic enrollment helps expand the reach of advanced coursework classes and grow the number of traditionally underrepresented students taking advanced coursework.
“Participating in advanced coursework has been shown to increase high school graduation and college enrollment rates,” said Blom. “Automatic enrollment and incentives for advanced students and teachers will put more Kentucky students on the path to a successful life post-graduation.”
Students who do not qualify for automatic enrollment can still enroll in advanced coursework if they choose to do so.
Between 2018 and 2022, the number of Kentucky students enrolled in AP courses declined across all student groups.
“Often, parents and students don’t understand the value proposition these courses offer,” said Mires. “We have to take a more active approach to go out and find these students, especially when we look at this broad middle group of students who could be participating in these classes but are not.”
Disparities persist in which students participate in both AP and Dual Credit programs. In the 2021-22 school year, districts with high percentages - 75% or more - of students from low-income backgrounds had only 5% of students enrolled in AP courses. Districts with less than 50% of students from low-income backgrounds experienced a significantly smaller decline in AP enrollment.
“Kentucky has many students ready to learn at advanced levels,” said Roberts. “Many of them have few, if any, opportunities in their schools to learn at advanced levels. All students are not ready to learn on the same level. Some need advanced coursework to stay motivated and reach their potential.”
Other solutions presented to expand access to advanced coursework courses included:
- Online and reciprocal agreements: The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) would offer AP courses online or through agreements between school districts to ensure access for all students.
- Communicating the importance of advanced coursework: Schools would inform parents about the benefits of AP and advance coursework for eligible students.
- Implementing and incentive program for students and teachers: Starting in the 2025-2026 academic year, Advanced Kentucky with support from KDE, would expand a program with monetary incentives for AP students and teachers based on increased AP exam passage rates.
- Annual reporting: KDE would report progress and outcomes to the Interim Joint Education Committee annually.
For more information on advanced coursework, visit https://www.prichardcommittee.org/toolkits.
