Who We Are

A+ College Ready was created in 2008 by A+ Education Partnership at the request of the Governor, the Legislature, and the State Department of Education. This proven public-private partnership works with middle schools and high schools to develop a diverse pipeline of students prepared for success in college, career, and life. A+ College Ready’s high-quality, content-specific teacher training and rigorous curricula are fully aligned to the Alabama Courses of Study and the College Board’s AP requirements. We support courses in grades 6 through 12 in Math, Science, English, Social Studies, Computer Science, Art, and Spanish.

Participating schools create cultures of high academic expectations for all students, teachers, and administrators by:

  • Increasing the number of students engaged in rigorous curricula that promote access to higher-level academic classes and prepare them for success in college, career, and life.
  • Increasing access to AP for underrepresented students, giving every student the opportunity to reach their potential.
  • Training, supporting, and equipping teachers with research-based teaching strategies, deeper content knowledge, and classroom resources.
  • Empowering administrators to serve as strong instructional leaders at their schools.

Our Offerings

Program Offerings

Advanced Placement Training and Incentive Program (APTIP)

Our traditional 3-year grant program for high schools and feeder middle schools. High schools and their feeder middle schools (grades 6-12 and those participating in AP courses) receive intensive training, incentives, supplies, and other ongoing support. Overall, this program has impacted over 200 schools, and has created a pipeline of students prepared for the rigor of Advanced Placement coursework, college coursework, and the workforce.

(MSTIP) – Our middle school program that is a replication of our traditional APTIP program adapted to increase student achievement in middle schools only. Middle school teachers receive intensive training, incentives, supplies, and other ongoing support.

(ITIP): A program for individual AP teachers who are new to teaching an AP course or wish to expand access and success in their AP courses. Individual teachers receive our high-quality teacher training and ongoing support, incentives, and supplies for their classrooms.

A comprehensive professional development program designed to equip Alabama teachers with the training, resources, and ongoing support needed to integrate computer science into their classrooms. Teachers receive hands-on training in computer science fundamentals, coding, computational thinking, programming, cybersecurity, data, and other computer science concepts aligned to Alabama standards. Professional learning opportunities are available across elementary, middle, and high school, including support for Computer Science Fundamentals, Computer Science Discoveries, Computer Science & Society, Programming Foundations, AP Computer Science Principles, and AP Computer Science A. Additional opportunities include coding bootcamps and Praxis preparation to strengthen teacher content knowledge and instructional practice.

Elements of Success

Program Management
  • Competitive School Selection
  • School Memorandum of Agreement
  • A+ Coordinator Letter of Agreement
  • Teacher Letter of Agreement
  • Goal Setting, Data Management, & Analysis
  • E3 Teacher Training & Fall Workshop for grades 6-10 teachers
  • AP Summer Institute and Fall Conference for AP Teachers
  • A+ Coordinator & Administrator Training
  • Content Expert Support for all teachers
  • Staff Support for Administrators
  • AP Mock Exam Reading & Scoring
  • Classrooms receive the materials and supplies to implement the curricula effectively.
  • Rigorous curriculum for all students
  • Increased access to Advanced Placement courses for all students
  • Stipends for teachers and A+ Coordinators
  • Student gift cards for each AP qualifying score
  • Stipend for Administrators earning ACLD PLU
  • Student gift cards for meeting each MSTIP growth or achievement goal
  • School recognition for high schools meeting AP qualifying score goals
  • School recognition for middle schools meeting score goals
  • Student Study Sessions for all AP students
  • AP Mock Exams for every AP student
  • AP exam fee subsidies

A+ College Ready utilizes six elements to prepare schools, teachers, and students for success in all three grant offerings.

Elements of Success

Participant Schools