Indiana Celebrates AP Success

The Advanced Placement Training and Incentive Program for Indiana (AP-TIP IN), one of five state-wide initiatives that are currently replicating NMSI’s College Readiness Program, has reason to celebrate this fall. The program has yielded a third year of success stories including leaps in student enrollment in AP math, science and English courses and big gains in the percentage of students earning AP exam scores of 3 or higher (on a five-point scale), which qualifies them for college credit at many colleges and universities across the country.

“These strong gains are good news for Indiana schools, teachers and students, especially as we help close the STEM achievement gap among minority and women students,” said Karen Morris, director of AP-TIP IN. “More of our next generation is getting ready for the successful careers this state’s economy comprises now and into the future.”
 
The average first-year increase in the number of math, science and English AP qualifying scores among program schools is 57 percent – more than eight times the national average. Moreover, for the third straight year, AP-TIP IN students accounted for more than one-third of the AP qualifying score gains across all public schools in the state of Indiana.
 
Student groups traditionally underrepresented in math and science also earned notable successes. After three years in the program, female students achieved a 93 percent increase in the number of qualifying scores on math and science AP exams, and African-American and Hispanic student students saw a 191 percent increase.
 
Over the past three years, more than 12,000 students at 30 Indiana high schools have participated in the program and earned more than 7,600 qualifying AP scores. With this degree of success, a celebration was no doubt in order. Kokomo HS, recipient of this year’s AP-TIP IN School of the Year award, hosted a  results announcement ceremony in October.
 
“Much of this is from the hard work of students, but none of this could be possible if it weren’t for amazing teachers,” said Kokomo School Corporation superintendent Dr. Jeff Hauswald.
 
Indeed, the cornerstone of the program is not only more time on task for students, but also more professional development for teachers. NMSI is proud to partner with AP-TIP IN in providing the training and support necessary for both teachers and students to continue to achieve high levels of academic success.