{"id":4624,"date":"2016-01-19T20:23:00","date_gmt":"2016-01-20T00:23:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/?p=4624"},"modified":"2016-05-19T12:04:21","modified_gmt":"2016-05-19T16:04:21","slug":"parent-connection-workshop-highlights-ap-program-and-potential","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/parent-connection-workshop-highlights-ap-program-and-potential\/","title":{"rendered":"Parent Connection workshop highlights AP program and potential"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hours before the largest Powerball jackpot drawing in world history, College Board director Cale Golden discussed a more realistic option for families to defray the cost of college tuition \u2013 Advanced Placement (AP) courses.<\/p>\n

Golden estimated that the 9,292 AP exams taken by Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) in 2015 equated to more than 27,000 hours of college credit. He calculated the potential tuition savings, based on the average college credit rate in Virginia, to be $10,127,350.80.<\/p>\n

More than $10 million in savings, Golden stressed.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut, we\u2019re all going to win the Powerball tonight, so we won\u2019t have to worry about that, will we?\u201d he asked the crowd with a smile.<\/p>\n

The financial benefit of earning college credit through AP courses was only one of the rewards highlighted during Parent Connection\u2019s free workshop Jan. 13, Advanced Placement (AP) Awareness<\/em>. Golden\u2019s presentation provided families with more information about the division\u2019s AP program, course expectations, AP potential and available resources.<\/p>\n

\"presentation\"<\/a>Golden promised not to sugarcoat anything, stating early, \u201cI will get real with you as an AP teacher would.\u201d And throughout his presentation, the former high school teacher of AP English courses, offered reflections from personal experience as he discussed the many benefits of taking AP classes.<\/p>\n

\u201cRigor. That\u2019s a word thrown around a lot in education,\u201d said Golden, \u201cbut with AP courses, it\u2019s a matter of depth.\u201d Students are challenged to analyze and apply information as they would in higher-level studies in college.<\/p>\n

Golden took a moment to \u201cget real\u201d with parents here. \u201cParents, be prepared. They may not bring home an A. Remember, they will be taking a college course.\u201d<\/p>\n

And for the students present Golden encouraged, \u201cDon\u2019t be scared by a workload. Every course has a workload. Every job has a workload.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Golden\"<\/a>That\u2019s why he stressed students should take AP courses that are interesting to them and \u201cnot the one all your friends are taking,\u201d added Golden, noting his own misguided experience as a ninth-grader in his first AP class.<\/p>\n

According to Golden, another benefit of taking AP courses is that they are valued in the college admission process. Having AP courses on a transcript shows colleges students are serious about their education and prepared to challenge themselves with rigorous coursework.<\/p>\n

Golden also noted AP courses provide an \u201cinteresting and rewarding academic experience to students.”<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not about the test score in the end, moms and dads. It\u2019s about the exposure,\u201d said Golden. Learning perseverance, time management and responsibility are all part of the AP course experience.\u00a0Developing advanced research, communication, problem-solving and analytical skills will support students\u2019 future college and career success.<\/p>\n

Workshop attendees snapped photos of PowerPoint slides for future reference and asked questions throughout the presentation about workload, weighted grades, academic preparation, new course opportunities and textbooks.<\/p>\n

\"cell<\/a>AP teachers use a variety of instructional resources, highlighted Golden, many outside the pages of course textbooks. From his days teaching AP English courses, he recalled hearing a news story on the drive to work and incorporating it into his lesson that day. He also referred to more current news as an example of AP teachers\u2019 use of authentic and relevant resources. \u201cThe president\u2019s State of the Union was last night,\u201d Golden said. \u201cYou can bet that, as a teacher of language, we would have been looking at the speech in class today to review the language.\u201d<\/p>\n

Recognizing that parents and students would have questions long after his presentation, Golden highlighted a variety of resources available online for PSAT test takers. He praised VBCPS for making the PSAT 8\/9 available to all eighth and ninth graders and the PSAT\/NMSQT available to all 10th<\/sup> and 11th<\/sup> graders this fall.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe division recognizes that everyone has potential, so we made sure everyone had the opportunity to take the test,\u201d said Eileen Cox, VBCPS Chief Media and Communications Officer.<\/p>\n

Golden shared how a code found on students\u2019 PSAT score reports provides access to an online dashboard that links students\u2019 PSAT scores to personalized SAT practice opportunities and to AP Potential, a Web-based tool that identifies in which AP courses a student is likely to be successful.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean you will magically ace the course,\u201d said Golden, but it provides insight on areas of strength. He stressed that student interest in the course of study and motivation still need to be considered.<\/p>\n

Golden was equally enthusiastic about the Daily Practice for the New SAT app available for anyone. Students can take and score full SAT practice tests through the app or spend 10 minutes a day to work through practice problems.<\/p>\n

Even with the host of valuable online resources, Golden closed by encouraging students to \u201ctalk to your school counselors, talk to AP teachers and talk to AP students.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdvocate on your behalf,\u201d Golden encouraged. \u201cWhat are you interested in? What does your AP Potential say your strengths are? What do you want to major in and what are the related AP courses?\u201d<\/p>\n

As the crowd dispersed one father, who brought his daughter to encourage her to consider AP opportunities, told Golden, \u201cI think it got to her. She says she\u2019ll take at least one AP class next year.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For more information about College Board resources related to PSAT results, AP Potential and practice opportunities, visit <\/em>collegereadiness.collegeboard.org<\/em><\/a>. With questions about your child\u2019s PSAT score report or to learn more about the school division\u2019s AP program, please contact your child\u2019s school counselor.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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