Advanced Placement Handbook Updated December 2017
Table of Contents Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 What is Advanced Placement? The Role of AP School Contact & Division Coordinator PD and Resources for AP Teachers Parent Communication GSCS AP Guidelines AP Student & Parent Recognition of Understanding GSCS AP Courses and Teachers 2018 AP Exam Schedule 2018 AP Late Testing Schedule AP Exam Challenge Request Form 2
What is Advanced Placement? The College Board is a not-for-profit organization that helps students prepare for a successful transition to post-secondary through programs and services including the Advanced Placement Program. Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools offers Advanced Placement in four of our high schools. AP is an opportunity for students to get a feel for the rigors of university-level studies in a supportive high school environment. Resourceful and dedicated AP teachers work with their students to develop and apply the skills, abilities, and content knowledge they will need later in post-secondary. Each AP course concludes with a university-level exam developed and scored by college and university faculty members as well as experienced AP teachers. AP Exams are assessed on a 5 point scale. Performing well on an AP exam means more than just the successful completion of a course. Research consistently shows that students who score a 3 or higher typically earn higher overall marks in university and have higher graduation rates (2015-16 AP Program Guide). In Saskatchewan, the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Regina both require a score of 4 or 5 on an AP exam for university credit(s). For more information about transfers of AP scores, please visit the U of S and U of R websites; located at: http://explore.usask.ca/admissions/ap.php (University of Saskatchewan) https://urconnected.uregina.ca/oldadmissionreqs/aprequirements.ezc (University of Regina) Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools supports Advanced Placement students and teachers by paying for Advanced Placement exams for our AP students, and by providing professional development opportunities for AP teachers. Role of AP School Contact Each AP school has an AP contact to act as the school coordinator. The AP contact works collaboratively with the division coordinator to support AP students and AP teachers. Duties of an AP school contact include signing the AP School Participation Form, communicating AP teacher transfers or changes in placement, working with AP teachers and administrators to distribute and collect signed AP Student and Parent Recognition of Understanding forms, and assisting in the organization of AP exams. Role of Division AP Coordinator The division coordinator works with school based administrators and the AP school contact to ensure that AP courses are approved and the exam process is conducted in accordance with College Board policies and procedures. The division coordinator manages the AP budget, orders exams, completes AP participation and course audit requirements, organizes exam locations, and trains proctors. In addition to coordinating exams, the division coordinator also supports AP teachers with professional learning opportunities. 3
Professional Development Opportunities for AP Teachers 1) Saskatchewan Advanced Placement Conference a) Ten teachers will have the opportunity to attend the full day conference; sub costs and registration fees will be covered. b) Process: Priority will go to Grade 12 AP teachers; however, Pre-AP teachers are encouraged to express interest. There is always the possibility of sending more teachers if there is an overwhelming response. 2) Advanced Placement Summer Institute a) One teacher will have access to funds to attend the 2018 Summer Institute in British Columbia. b) Process: Priority will be given to Grade 12 AP teachers who have not attended the Summer Institute in the past. c) Partial funding is available, and each teacher will have access to $1,200.00 to put towards the conference. It is recommended that teachers apply for PD funding through the Travel and Conference committee to supplement the cost of the institute. 3) Vertical Team Planning Time a) Vertical teams can request planning time, in which sub costs are covered. 4) Mentorship Opportunities a) AP and Pre-AP teachers interested in connecting with other AP teachers across the division can access funds for sub costs to support professional growth (observation, collaborative planning time, etc.). Please contact Tressa Kokonas to express interest in Advanced Placement professional development opportunities. Resources for Students and Teachers The College Board has online resources to help students and teachers prepare for AP exams: AP Central: http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/home For Students Web Page: https://student.collegeboard.org/ Parent Communication The Bulletin for AP Students and Parents is distributed to students at the school level by the AP school contact or AP teachers. The AP Bulletin can be found on the College Board website: https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/pdf/ap-student-bulletin-2017-18.pdf In addition to the AP Bulletin, a memo from the division coordinator will be sent to AP teachers to be distributed to AP students. The memo will outline AP guidelines related to cancellation fees, late exam fees and exam dates. Students and parents are required to return a signed letter of understanding to the school by March 16, 2018. Tressa Kokonas will send copies of the memo and the Recognition of Understanding form on pages 4 and 5 to the AP School Contact in March. 4
Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools AP Guidelines 1. Adding an AP Course School administrators are asked to communicate any changes to AP programming (additions or deletions of courses) to the division coordinator as soon as possible. Adding an AP course requires approvals from the Ministry of Education and course audits from the College Board with specific deadlines that need to be met. In addition to approvals, adding courses requires division budget approvals for resources and AP exams. The deadline for adding an AP course for the 2018/19 school year is January 31, 2018. Please contact Tressa Kokonas by this date if you are planning to add an AP course. 2. Challenging AP Exams Students may express interest in challenging an AP exam. If the school does not offer the AP course, the school requirements for an exam challenge are as follows: a. The AP school contact & principal must approve the request for a challenge. b. A teacher must provide support to the student in the form of tutorials, resources and exam preparation. c. Students that wish to challenge an exam must complete the Exam Challenge Request Form (on page 11) and submit the completed form to Tressa Kokonas by February 15 th. d. The cost of an AP exam is $124.00. 3. Cancelled Exams The exam ordering deadline is March 23, 2018. Students who decide not to write the exam on or after this date will be charged a cancellation fee of $30.00. Students should be encouraged to notify teachers as soon as possible if they do not intend to write an AP exam. 4. Late-Testing Exam Dates Students who are unable to write the regularly scheduled AP exam because of a school related conflict or illness, have the opportunity to write a late exam without paying a late fee. Students that request a late exam due to circumstances unrelated to school activities, as outlined in College Board exam policies & regulations, will be charged $60.00. Please contact Tressa Kokonas as soon as possible if you have students that need a late exam, so proctors and exam locations can be arranged. 5. International Students Students that are registered in Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools International Student Program will be charged $350.00 per AP exam. 5
Advanced Placement Students & Parents/Guardians To: From: Tressa Kokonas Learning Services Coordinator Date: March 1, 2018 Regarding: GSCS Advanced Placement Exam Guidelines & Exam Dates Attachment: AP Student & Parent Recognition of Understanding form & 2018 AP Exam Schedules (Regular and Late-Testing) Dear AP Students & Parents/Guardians, Please be advised of GSCS Advanced Placement Guidelines related to cancelled and late-testing exams. AP students and parents/guardians must sign the attached AP Student & Parent Recognition of Understanding form and return it to the school by March 16, 2018. Cancelled Exams: Exams will be ordered on March 23, 2018; and students choosing not to write an AP exam on or after March 16 th will be charged $30.00. If you have decided not to write an AP exam, please advise your AP teacher by March 16, 2018. Late-Testing Exams: Students who are unable to write regularly scheduled AP exams because of a school related conflict or illness, have the opportunity to write a late exam without paying a late fee. Students that request a late exam due to circumstances unrelated to school activities, as outlined in College Board exam policies & regulations, will be charged $60.00. Students requiring a late exam must notify his/her AP teacher by March 16, 2018. Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools will continue to support our AP students by paying for AP exams. The cancellation and late exam fees are in place to pay the fees that the division is charged by the College Board for each unwritten and late exam. International Students: Students that are registered in Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools International Student Program will be charged $350.00 per AP exam. *For more information about Advanced Placement, please refer to the College Board online document, 2017-18 Bulletin for AP Students and Parents, located on the College Board website: https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/pdf/ap-student-bulletin-2017-18.pdf 6
Advanced Placement Exam Guidelines AP Student & Parent Recognition of Understanding AP students and parents/guardians must sign this Recognition of Understanding form and return it to the school by March 16, 2018. Student Name: School: AP Exam(s): Student Recognition of Understanding: I,, have read the Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools AP Exam Guidelines and understand that I will be charged a cancellation fee and/or late fee as outlined below. Parent Recognition of Understanding: I,, have read the Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools AP Exam Guidelines and understand that my child will be charged a cancellation fee and/or late fee as outlined below. 2018 GSCS AP Exam Guidelines: Cancelled Exams: Exams will be ordered on March 23, 2018; and students choosing not to write an AP exam on or after March 16 th will be charged $30.00. If you have decided not to write an AP exam, please advise your AP teacher by March 16, 2018. Late/Alternate Exams: Students who are unable to write the regularly scheduled AP exam because of a school related conflict or illness, have the opportunity to write a late-testing exam without paying a late fee. Students that request a late exam due to circumstances unrelated to school activities, as outlined in College Board exam policies & regulations, will be charged $60.00. Students requiring a late exam must notify his/her classroom teacher by March 16, 2018. International Students: Students that are registered in Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools International Student Program will be charged $350.00 per AP exam. *For more information about Advanced Placement, please refer to the College Board online document, 2017-18 Bulletin for AP Students and Parents, located on the College Board website: https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/pdf/ap-student-bulletin-2017-18.pdf 7
Advanced Placement Courses and Teachers Bethlehem High School AP Contact: Kathy Puto 1. French - Camille St. Amand 2. English Michelle Horner 3. Psychology Tim Dychko Bishop James Mahoney High School AP Contact: Tracy Hazen 1. French Carolynne Chateigner 2. English - Ken Hodson 3. Studio Art Roberta Ross Holy Cross High School AP Contact: Jason Benson 1. French - Jeannette Chicoine-Darroch 2. English - Bob Turner 3. Studio Art - Ann Donald 4. Chemistry - Leah Walker 5. Calculus - Kevin Harbidge St. Joseph High School AP Contact: Krista Hayes 1. French - Nicole Bussiere 2. English - Eileen Laverty 3. Studio Art - Wendy Siemens 4. Calculus - Brad Boyko Division AP Coordinator: Tressa Kokonas Superintendent: Terri Fradette 8
2018 Advanced Placement Exam Schedule The complete AP Calendar can be located at: https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/takingtheexam/ap-calendar 9
2018 Advanced Placement Late-Testing Schedule 10
Advanced Placement Exam Challenge Request Form Please submit this completed form to Tressa Kokonas by February 15, 2018. Student Name: School: AP Exam: Name of teacher providing support: GSCS Exam Challenge Guidelines: Students may express interest in challenging an AP exam. If the school does not offer the AP course, the school requirements for an exam challenge are as follows: a. The AP school contact & principal must approve the request for a challenge. b. A teacher must provide support to the student in the form of tutorials, resources and exam preparation. c. Students that wish to challenge an exam must complete the Exam Challenge Request Form and submit the completed form to Tressa Kokonas by February 15 th. d. The cost of an AP exam is $124.00. Student Signature: Parent Signature: Principal Signature: 11