An Interview with Michael Petrilli: AP Classes on the Rise?

Michael F. Shaughnessy - May 18, 2009
Senior Columnist EducationNews.org

Eastern New Mexico University
Portales, New Mexico 
 

1) Mike, you have just released a report regarding AP Classes. What got this started?

Well, this survey is actually part three of a five-part, multiyear examination of the condition of high-achieving students in U.S. schools. We wanted to look at these students particularly now, in the era of “No Child Left Behind,” to see how they’re faring. The project is supported by the John Templeton Foundation and our sister organization, the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation. The first two parts, which included both an analysis of National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) data and a national teacher survey, were released in June 2008. They’re available on our website, www.edexcellence.net, along with this most recent report, about the AP program.

2) Are more students taking AP classes or AP exams?

Both. The number of students taking at least one AP exam is up more than fifty percent over the past five years, though students are also each taking more AP courses and exams than they  used to. Of course, it's possible to take an AP course and not take the exam.

3) What’s the motivation behind this?

In our study, we asked teachers why they thought so many more kids were taking AP courses. Overwhelmingly they said it was for utilitarian reasons: to improve their college applications. But that's quite rational. The Class of 2009 is much larger than senior classes of five or ten or twenty years ago, because we've reached the peak of the Baby Boom Echo. So there's a lot more competition for slots in elite colleges than there used to be.

4) How many teachers responded to this survey and was it a fairly random group?

The findings are based on data from a randomly-selected, nationally representative sample of 1,024 public high school teachers currently teaching at least one AP course. The Farkas-Duffett Research Group (FDR Group) conducted the survey from Sept. 26 to Oct. 31, 2008 for the Thomas B. Fordham Institute.  Of the responses to the survey questions, 884 responses were collected by mail and 140 were collected through the Internet. Also, before the survey was designed, the FDR Group moderated four focus groups with AP teachers -- one each in Texas, Wisconsin, Utah and Maryland. These participants were recruited to ensure a proper demographic mix. The purpose of the focus groups was to gain firsthand understanding of AP teachers’ perceptions, to develop new hypotheses based on their input, and to use language and terms they’re comfortable with in the design of the survey questions.

5) Do AP teachers believe that an “open door “ policy is a good one?

Well, they seem to be a bit divided on this, though a decent number of them seem concerned with the policy. Fifty-two percent agreed that “only students who can handle the material should take AP courses,” while 38% agreed that “the more students taking AP courses the better.” On a separate question on this topic, 63 percent felt that it would improve the AP program if there was more screening, to ensure that students are ready to do AP-level work before they get into those classrooms.

6) Is there a report on line that people can view?

Yes! You can view the report and related materials on the Thomas B. Fordham website, www.edexcellence.net