Today's Washington Post features a column by Jay Matthews on school districts
paying AP testing fees for their students. He makes the point that
The college-level AP and IB exams given in Loudoun and Fauquier counties are written and graded by outsiders. So if all students take the exams, classroom teachers have no way of lowering their standards without that being detected when the results are released.
Today's
LoudounTimes.com carries
a story on the looming revenue shortfall in Loudoun County, closing with this shot across the bow:
"Right now, schools are not even in the right universe," said Board Chairman Scott York (I-at large), commenting on the school system's expected $801 milliion spending plan for next year.
In the midst of the difficult choices that both Boards will need to make about tax rates, class sizes and what creates educational excellence, some School Board members are eyeing the AP fee payments, particularly for the many students from affluent families, as a potential target for savings. What do you think?
I feel that we would be very well served to get savings from the AP fees. There are ways that low-income families can get the fees waived or paid for independent of the County government.
ReplyDeleteThere are already enough barriers keeping students out of the AP program. Keep paying the fee.
ReplyDeleteGive us more and more and more goodies! Don't cut anything! We will whine like 9-year-olds. That's a promise.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the same students who qualify for free lunches should also qualify for free AP exam fees.
ReplyDeleteAP tests don't guarnatee success in life, either. Too many people in NOVA are crazed with academic "achievement" and end up with stressed out kids with mental heath problems from all the pressure placed on them.
It was mentioned to me that schools charging students for AP tests is illegal since it is a public school. Is this true?
ReplyDelete