Perspective | So Many to Thank as We Prepare to Celebrate 2016 AP Results

Letter from Tammy Dunn, A+CR Chief Academic Officer

Today is the annual celebration where we share the results of last year’s Advanced Placement program. After eight years of these celebrations it is very easy to think of this as just an “event”. However, I wanted to send a note to thank everyone for your contribution to some really phenomenal results.

There are very few things in the realm of education that show positive results. There are far fewer things that show consistent positive results. That is what the work of A+ College Ready has produced for EIGHT YEARS! That is really, really amazing.

• Alabama has seen a 170% increase in qualifying scores since 2008 (baseline year for A+ CR) compared to a 62% increase in the nation. That LEADS the nation in percent increase.

• The NUMBER of TEST TAKERS (not exams but kiddos) has quadrupled — a 422% increase — since 2008 in the state of Alabama, from 5,000+ to 20,000+ in 2016. 29% of those test takers last May were minority students and 16% of them were on free or reduced lunch. Think of the ACCESS to college level course work this organization has opened. Smart kids don’t only attend our “big” schools or schools in metropolitan areas.

• Alabama is #2 in the nation in percent increase in math and science qualifying scores over 8 years.

• A+ CR has penetrated 44% of Alabama High Schools, which means that we are serving more and more challenging schools. Cohort VIII has 9, N-I-N-E, math, science & English qualifying scores per 1,000 juniors and seniors their baseline year. I am certain many people in these schools and their communities had never hard of “AP” prior to last year.

• Most of the organizations in the NMSI states no longer exist and/or no longer exist doing the work that the initial grant funded them to do. Not so in Alabama. The work continues, the work evolves, the work improves.

This work is hard; there are a hundred moving pieces. But, today we get to celebrate some of what this work can lead to.

Today, as we celebrate, let’s remember that these numbers represent STUDENTS — that is really what our work is about. We will look at numbers today but let’s remember that behind every number is a student’s face. They are why all of this work is worth it.