Frequently Asked Questions?
Q What is Advanced Placement?
A The Program
The Advanced Placement Program® is a cooperative educational endeavor between secondary schools and colleges and universities. Since its inception in 1955, the Program has provided motivated high school students with the opportunity to take college-level courses in a high school setting. Students who participate in the Program not only gain college-level skills, but in many cases they also earn college credit while they are still in high school. AP courses are taught by dedicated and enthusiastic high school teachers who follow course guidelines developed and published by the College Board.
The Program's success is rooted in the collaborative efforts of motivated students, dedicated teachers, and committed schools. By participating in the Program, secondary schools make the commitment to organize and support at least one class that is equivalent to a first-year college course.
There are currently more than 110,000 teachers leading AP courses in high schools worldwide. AP teachers are some of the world's finest. The Program is strengthened by their participation in professional development workshops and Summer Institutes and in the annual AP Reading where thousands of AP teachers and college faculty gather at college sites across the United States to score the AP Exams using rigorous guidelines.
AP Program Facts
• The AP Program offers 35 courses in 20 subject areas.
• Nearly 60 percent of U.S. high schools participate in the AP Program.
• In 2005, 2.1 million AP Exams were administered worldwide.
o More than 60,000 teachers worldwide attended AP workshops and institutes for professional development last year.
o Over 90 percent of the nation's colleges and universities have an AP policy granting incoming students credit, placement, or both, for qualifying AP Exam grades.
Are Advanced Placement exams required?
• No, they are strongly encouraged. Exams are required if a student wants to earn college credit.
Is there a GPA advantage for Advanced Placement classes?
• No, none of our classes have weighted grades. The benefits include the opportunity to take an AP exam as well as the class is noted as an AP one on the students transcript.
Q What is Dual Enrollment?
A In 1996 the Michigan State Legislature passed the Postsecondary Enrollment Options Act or "Dual Enrollment bill." The bill modifies and expands on current provisions of the State School Aid Act providing for the participation of eligible high school students in dual enrollment or postsecondary enrollment options. The bill also requires that the board of a school district or public school academy ensure that each student in eighth grade or higher be given information about college level equivalent or Advanced Placement courses; and permit students in tenth grade to take the MEAP High School Test to qualify to take postsecondary courses. The classes that students are eligible for must not be offered by the high school or academy and must lead towards accreditation, certification and/or trade licensing.
Q What are the qualifying scores for Dual Enrollment?
A PLAN Assessment
Content Area Minimum Passing Score
Mathematics 18
Reading 17
Science 19
English 21
PSAT Assessment
PSAT Test Section Content Minimum Passing Scores
Critical Reading Reading 44
Writing Skills Writing 49
Math Mathematics 45
Q What is the process?
Q What does exhaust our curriculum?
A A student must have taken all of the courses in a subject area or it is a course we do not offer with the exception physical education, religious classes, and philosophy.
Q Dual Enrollment versus Advance Placement
A AP courses are college level courses taught by high school facuilty that have a positive impact on a student transcript. If a student takes the AP Exam and receives a qualifying score for the individual college or university they will earn college credit.
Dual Enrollment (DE) is a college course taught by college hired staff. A student must follow the state and local district requirements to apply to take a course. It is designated as DE on the course transcript. It is up to the students chosen college/university as to whether they will accept the transfer credit.
Q Testing Schedule
A PLAN As a "pre-ACT" test, PLAN is a powerful predictor of success on the ACT. At the same time, many schools recognize the importance of PLAN testing for all students, as it focuses attention on both career preparation and improving academic achievement.
PLAN is administered in the fall of the sophomore year.
ACT
The ACT® test assesses high school students' general educational development and their ability to complete college-level work.
• The multiple-choice tests cover four skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science.
• The Writing Test, which is optional, measures skill in planning and writing a short essay.
MME (replaces the MEAP as the state endorsed test.) ACT plus writing, Work Keys, and state created
Internships
Q How many are required for City Graduation requirements? When
A 2 are required during junior and senior year. Students can schedule their internship during 7th hour for 1 semester or 8th hour all year.
Q Why only 2?
A We want to make sure there is room for the new graduation requirements, and electives that students traditionally have requested.
Q Education Development Plan?
A An Education Development Plan (EDP) documents an ongoing process in which a learner identifies both career goals and a plan of action to achieve them. The purpose of the EDP is to provide every student with a periodically updated and ongoing record of career planning that will guide in taking effective steps to enter a career of choice. Each student develops a first EDP in middle school, stating an initial career goal and desired work and educational experiences. School counselors verify that EDPs reflect an individual career decision-making process based on career exploration, career assessment information, school performance, and expressed interests. School counselors also facilitate selection and enrollment into general courses and into specialized education and training related to the career pathway of choice indicated in the EDP.
Michigan Virtual High School?
Q Why should my child take an online course through MVHS?
A He or she could catch up on missed credit, take a subject not offered in-seat (including Advanced Placement® courses), improve his/her technology skills, solve a scheduling conflict, try a different method of learning or supplement his/her learning activities if he/she is being home-schooled or is temporarily home-bound.
Q Can I enroll my child in MVHS courses?
A Yes, but only as a home-schooler. If you want your student to take MVHS courses through his or her local school, the appropriate person at the school (guidance counselor or the school’s registrar, most likely) must register and enroll a student in an MVHS course. MVHS students must be age 20 or younger.
Q Will my son take the course on his own time or school time?
A Many schools have students “go to” their online course during a regular school period, maybe in a computer lab or media center. In other cases, he may be accessing his course outside of regular school hours, especially if he is making up credit or has a scheduling conflict. Even if he has time during the school day to work on his virtual course, he’ll probably still need to access the course outside of regular school hours for homework, just as he does for most of his in-seat courses.
City staff is looking for some students to help work the Economicology Expo next Thursday, August 14. Volunteers should arrive by 4:30 pm and plan on working until 7:30 pm. Head to the lobby of multi purpose area. Volunteers will be helping with welcoming, directing people for flow and any other miscellaneous items. Contact Sara at