At a time when our school district faces budget cuts ranging from , one cut that would be relatively easy to make has been erroneously overlooked.
AP classes are college-level classes in which high school teachers literally teach to the test. Starting with homework assigned over summer vacation, and ending with the AP test in May, these classes provide college credit for the average 60 percent of students who pass these tests with a 3 or higher (out of 5).
So why bring up college level classes in the budget debate? Well, after AP testing has concluded, the classes are basically useless. Of course some teachers may assign projects and assignments, but for the most part, the rest of the year is basically a film festival. So why then, must we continue to attend these classes?
The time between the last AP test (May 18th) and the last day of school (June 20th) is 22 school days. I call this time the "AP Film Festival," but no matter how you slice it, it's wasted time. Most AP teachers usually use this time to either catch up or get ahead with their regular classes. Most students use this time to catch up on homework, sleep or both. These activities can be done without each party's presence.
So how would this proposal save the district money? The most glaring example is the money that would no longer be paid to the teachers for these classes. As stated before, most teachers already use this time as another "prep period." And since most of these AP teachers are higher on the pay scale, savings are increased by substantial margins. The second, but somewhat minimal savings impact, would be in energy bills for these classes, as the days are closer to summer.
The implementation of this proposal would be relatively simple to achieve through administrative policy changes in the district, and maybe even the nation. First would be an exemption to AP students in regards to the 6- and 5-class minimum rules for sophomores, juniors and seniors. Second would be a policy change in allowing credit allotment for students of these shortened classes.
In reality, the only obstacle to implementation would be the negotiations between the district and the teachers' union, which unfortunately could turn ugly.
I have to admit, I did have reservations about writing this post, considering possibility of some form of reprisal from teachers or administration. Whether you agree or disagree with my proposal is entirely up to you, but you must remember that cuts will happen, and at this point there can be no sacred cows.
I respect your right to form an opinion based upon your observations and I admire your guts in posting this proposal. That said, I take exception with the implication that ALL AP teachers do nothing for their classes after the AP exam. I never did. After the AP exam for Calculus AB, I started teaching BC material. Every year I was swamped with calls and emails from parents crying that I shouldn't be moving on. Every year my students whined daily. Every year I just took it and kept on teaching. I take strong exception to the idea that ALL AP teachers "mail it in" after the exam. Respectfully, how many AP's have you had? 4? Yet you propose a national plan based upon your limited experience?? Our AP students might remind you that your sample size is ridiculously small. AP classes are college level. If we want to save money on the high school level, lets cut them out completely. We won't, in part because you and your parents would go crazy and threaten to leave the school. You can't have it both ways.
If that is the case then aren't we wasting a lot of money with these classes? The end goal is still educating the students is it not? Or is it just getting them to pass some college entrance test? My experience in the college classroom would indicate the latter. The AP kids never did impress me; as students they were certainly nowhere near the level of the kids who were educated in a private school or educated in Europe.
But you know this. And I hope you keep writing about this problem, Alberto. It will destroy your generation, sooner or later. At least it will from the standpoint of people like yourself who do think critically. Keep up the "good" fight.
But the ACLU lawsuit (which requires a free education to all students in California) settlement has stopped this practice. Now, AP exam results cannot change a letter grade in a class, because the AP test costs money. Something that costs money is not available to all students. Of course teachers still teach to the AP test. That's why most of the students are in the class, to take the test and possibly get college credit in advance of entering college. The "honors" classes here are the classes 9th and 10th graders who are high achievers and want a bigger workload. There's only one AP class in 10th, that's the first one kids can take.
But then I've long maintained that our goal is not to educate our citizens. I think that, at this point, is beyond the obvious.
But we aren't anywhere close to being serious about education in this country. And that is why we're rapidly falling behind the rest of the industrialized world.
Why not start the school year one week earlier and end the school year May 18th. Send all the students home for the summer so they can pay for the student furlough. Ending May 18th for all students would save money on both salaries and electricity expenses for the entire district.
It seems to me that the District and the Teachers Union are taking credit for the furlough idea, when in fact it was yours. I assumed this blog was 'Tongue in Cheek,' but apparently not so. And I would guess your other post that said "not enough furlough days" was serious. Incidentally, how many furlough days do you think the District should offer to trim down now that you have seen the proposals? Are you sticking with your original recommendation of 22 days? As long as you are solving the CUSD crises and you have 'free time' in school, would you consider taking a stab at the State Budget Crises? We bow to you. Please don't disappoint.
It would appear CA now has a long term math problem and will need to rethink how to approach education. Maybe better use of technology.