Trevor Packer Twotter: Addressing Inequities in AP Classes

The College Board's Chief of Assessment Trevor Packer has expressed hope that the new Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies course will encourage more Black students to take AP classes early on and continue to do so throughout their high school career. This is similar to how some states have used AP Spanish as an incentive for Hispanic students.

Every high school in the country will receive an evaluation of whether their AP classrooms mirror the demographics of their school, Packer explained. The nonprofit is also expected to launch a new school recognition program this fall. Two major initiatives are underway at the College Board to address inequities in AP classes. The first is onboarding a team with expertise in Native education to tackle the issue that Native American students are 20 percent less likely to have access to AP classes than their peers.

The second initiative aims to address why Black students are not being enrolled in AP classes at proportionate rates. Diverse representation is key for the College Board as it looks to diversify the students taking AP classes. Packer shared two particular initiatives to achieve this goal. The nonprofit is working with districts that commit to offering more sections of AP classes, providing free teacher training to ensure more students have the option to enroll.

According to College Board research, one or two AP classes per year of high school are enough to prepare students for college. At the AP annual conference in Seattle, Packer highlighted his concerns about the uneven distribution of AP classes among American students. He noted that a small percentage of students were taking multiple AP classes, while the majority had limited access to AP seats.

In an interview with Education Week, Packer emphasized that addressing these inequities is crucial for ensuring equal opportunities for all students. By tackling these issues head-on, the College Board hopes to create a more inclusive and representative environment in AP classrooms across the country.

Trevor packer twotter