Pre-Advanced Placement A BRIDGE TO ADVANCED PLACEMENT AN INFORMATION SESSION FOR PARENTS
Goals for this presentation 1. Provide information that will assist parents and students in making decisions about secondary course options 2. Provide information on advanced course options for grade 6 3. Explain how GT students are served within the PreAP Program.
Pre-Advanced Placement, Grades 6-10 PreAP courses provide appropriately challenging curriculum for students who are ready for advanced coursework PreAP & PreAP/GT courses support the development of skills and concepts necessary for success in Advanced Placement courses in high school
What is Advanced Placement? College Level Courses Available for grades 10-12 (generally) Designed and administered by the College Board Katy ISD AP courses in math, science, social studies, English, world languages, fine arts and computer science
Advanced Placement Exams Two or three hour exams Multiple choice questions Free response questions Administered in May Scored on 1-5 scale Scores of 3, 4, 5 are generally accepted for college credit.
Advanced Placement is not just about college credit, It is also Students experiencing college level instruction while in the supportive home/school environment Students developing collegelevel analytical and study skills Students gaining academic confidence
WHAT COUNTS IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS 1992 NACAC Survey College Admissions Officials % citing considerably important
Pre-AP (grades 6-10) in Katy ISD is designed to better prepare students for the academic rigor of Advanced Placement courses. PreAP is NOT Advanced Placement.
Pre-AP Curriculum in Katy ISD Built upon the core academic curriculum Academically advanced course of study Curriculum objectives Resources Performance expectations Developed with a concentration on building the student s capacity to understand rigorous content
English/Language Arts
English/Language Arts 6 th Pre-AP Reading and Pre-AP English 7 th Pre-AP Reading and Pre-AP English 8 th Pre-AP English 9 th Pre-AP English I 10 th Pre-AP English II 11 th AP English Language and Composition 12 th AP English Literature and Composition
English/Language Arts Academic No required summer reading Timed assessments are not emphasized Young Adult Literature Pre-AP/AP Summer reading beginning the summer after 5 th grade Timed Writings Authors of Merit
Social Studies
Social Studies 6 th Pre-AP World Cultures 7 th Pre-AP Texas History 8 th Pre-AP U.S. History 9 th & 10th 11th 12th Pre-AP World Geography OR AP Human Geography Pre-AP World History OR AP World History AP U.S. History AP Government/AP Economics
Social Studies Skill Development Primary and secondary document analysis Outside reading in addition to textbook Accountability for independent reading Thesis and Essay Writing Note-making
Science
6 th Pre-AP Science 7 th Pre-AP Science 8 th Pre-AP Science 9 th Pre-AP Biology Science 10 th Pre-AP Chemistry 11 th AP Physics 1 12 th AP Physics 2, AP Chemistry, AP Biology, or AP Environmental Science
Mathematics
The Special Case of Mathematics.. Goal of Pre-AP Mathematics in grades 6 and 7: success in Algebra I in 8th grade Accelerated curriculum in 6th and 7th grades 6 th grade PreAP math includes 1/2 7 th grade math 7 th grade PreAP math includes 1/2 of 7 th and all of 8 th grade math.
High School Math Courses 8 th 9 th Algebra I Pre-AP Geometry 10 th 11 th 12 th Pre-AP Algebra II Pre-AP Pre-calculus AP Calculus AB or
Mathematics 6th/ 7th Academic Sixth and Seventh grade curriculum Pre-AP/AP 6 th, 7 th and 8 th grade curriculum 8 th Eighth grade mathematics Algebra I 9 th Algebra I Pre-AP Geometry 12 th Pre-calculus (Possibly AP Statistics) AP Calculus AB or BC AP Statistics
Making Course Decisions.
College Board s Equity Policy Statement equitable access a guiding principle for their AP programs by giving all willing and academically prepared students the opportunity to participate in AP. students should have access to academically challenging course work before they enroll in AP classes, which can prepare them for AP success.
Advanced Academics in Katy ISD Katy ISD recognizes the value of student participation in advanced academic coursework and encourages students to graduate from high school with advanced academic course credit. Students are encouraged to access the most rigorous curriculum in which they can be successful, generally defined as earning a C or better semester average.
Katy ISD Advanced Academics PreAP and AP courses are designed to challenge students beyond grade-level academic courses and prepare them for success in future advanced level coursework. Student performance in related courses and teacher input are important elements for parents and students to consider in selecting advanced coursework. Students may require additional encouragement and support to be successful in these courses.
Katy ISD Advanced Academics Students who opt to participate in AP or PreAP must: Successfully complete prerequisite courses as specified in the course catalog Demonstrate mastery on course-related statemandated performance assessments such as STAAR. Recognize the long term benefits of participation, seek assistance when needed, and commit to staying in the course for a minimum of one semester.
Access to Advanced Academics Making a decision about Pre-AP and AP 1. Consider state test performance and other course related performance data. 2. Review semester averages earned in core classes. 3. Self assess in terms of student attitudes and study habits. 4. Consider personal/academic interests and strengths.
Demonstrating Persistence To encourage students to remain in an advanced course, prior to exiting a course, students must complete a series of steps.
Exiting Advanced Academic Courses Students experiencing success (C or better SEMESTER average) should remain in the course for the semester. Students petitioning to exit a PreAP or AP course must: conference with the teacher, complete all course assignments, and/or attend recommended tutorials. Granting the petition is based on input from the teacher, student performance in the course, availability of space in other courses, and the timing of the request.
Points to remember Choices include from zero to multiple Pre-AP courses Students successful in 5th grade mathematics should be in PreAP.
Points to remember Some As are not as good as some Bs. Emil Kreider Economics Professor, Beloit College
Frequently Asked Questions How many Pre-AP courses should a 6 th grader take? It depends. Sixth grade course options are English, Reading, Math, Social Studies and Science. As many students take all Pre-AP as take some Pre-AP Students with strong grades in 5 th grade are generally successful in pre-ap.
FAQs Do Pre-AP courses have more homework than academic courses? Usually, yes. But - parents and students respond that the homework amount is generally appropriate
FAQS Are students enrolled in Pre- AP courses able to participate in extracurricular activities? Many athletes, cheerleaders, music students, etc. successfully take Pre-AP and AP courses.
FAQs Can a student who does not enroll in Pre-AP courses in 6 th grade begin Pre-AP in 7 th? Generally, yes. Math, however, requires special consideration. Students who are strong in math should begin Pre-AP Math in 6 th grade.
FAQs Is there a difference between the grade points awarded for PreAP and PreAP/GT? No. Both PreAP and PreAP/GT courses carry a weighted grade point. Junior high courses do not contribute to the official high school Grade Point Average. Grade in the course Academic Grade Pts. PreAP & PreAP/GT Grade Pts. A 4 5 B 3 4 C 2 3 D 1 2 F 0 0
FAQs Why try Pre-AP in junior high? Students who enroll in Pre-AP in junior high benefit from early preparation and academic rigor to develop the academic skills to more easily transition to AP coursework. Grades earned in junior high courses do not count toward the high school GPA (high school courses taken in junior high do count toward high school GPA)
FAQs Can my child test out of a JH course to accelerate to the next level? There is a process in place known as Credit By Exam. Contact your campus counselor for more information. Deadlines: http://www.katyisd.org/pages/district-calendars.aspx
PreAP and Gifted Learners Students identified as Gifted are served within the PreAP program in classes designated as PreAP/GT. Only students formally identified should enroll in courses designated PreAP/GT. Parents of 5 th grade students who are identified for the secondary GT program should receive notifications this week regarding GT course approvals. Newly identified for the secondary program Challenge students
Most GT secondary students are clustered in Pre-AP classes. What is the advantage of GT identification in that situation? GT identification is designed to address the particular educational needs of the gifted learner. The teacher must have 30 hours of GT training The teacher is aware of the GT identification and can address unique needs of gifted learners in that class. GT students are part of a learning community that can help meet their social/emotional and intellectual needs. A cluster of GT students in a class creates a unique dynamic in the classroom that is evidenced by the dialogue and the depth of the conversation in the class.
FAQs Is GT more work? GT students should not receive assignments in addition to the standard assignments, but may receive assignments in lieu of the standard assignments. Replacement assignments are typically more open ended and flexible in the way students demonstrates their learning.
FAQs Is it advisable to take all PreAP/ GT classes? It depends on the strengths and interests of the individual child. What if my student is not identified in all areas? Students may enroll in PreAP classes or appropriate academic classes. Screening for service in additional areas may be requested in the spring of each year.
FAQs My child is approved for a GT course for next year, but we decide not to enroll in that course that grade. Can my child enroll in that GT course in the next grade? No. Your child will have to be screened for that content area during the spring screening window in the next school year for service in the following school year.
FAQs What if my child is not successful in the program? Contact the GT facilitator about exit policies. Can my child leave the program? Yes; students can formally exit the program or furlough from the program. What is a furlough? A temporary exit from a GT course for specific reasons detailed in KISD board policy, such as a schedule conflict. Furloughs are limited to a specific timeframe.
What if we move to a different school in Katy ISD or my child is affected by changes in attendance zones? Students identified for the KISD GT Program at one campus will join the GT Program at their new campus.
Goals for this presentation 1. Provide information that will assist parents and students in making decisions about secondary course options. 2. Provide information on advanced course options for grade 6. 3. Explain how GT students are served within the PreAP Program.
For additional information: Attend Course Selection Nights as scheduled by the junior high school Consult the 2019-2020 Course Catalog Contact the Junior High Counselor