NEW YORK — The New York State Education Department (NYSED) and the College Board have announced a new initiative providing Pre-AP® and AP® professional development training for up to 1,500 teachersin the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) disciplines throughout New York state.
The $4.8 million AP STEM program, which will begin this summer and continue through 2014, will strengthen the teaching skills of both new and experienced middle school and high school STEM teachers from eligible schools. As a result, the number of teachers qualified to teach Pre-AP and AP STEM courses will increase, thus enabling schools and districts to prepare a larger number of students for college-level study and career trajectories in these content areas.
“New York is already seeing growth in the participation of minority and low income students in AP courses and in their success as well,” Commissioner King said. “This initiative will help us build on that progress. The College Board is uniquely qualified to prepare and support teachers in bringing challenging Advanced Placement STEM courses to students in high-poverty, low-performing schools.”
AP STEM courses cultivate critical thinking, experimentation and problem solving. Research shows that students who take AP math or science exams are much more likely than non-AP students to earn degrees in physical science, engineering or life science disciplines — fields leading to some of the careers most essential to the nation’s future health and prosperity.
“The New York State Education Department is providing an example for the rest of the nation by making this long-term investment in the development of high-caliber math and science teachers,” said Trevor Packer, senior vice president of AP and College Readiness at the College Board.“AP math and science coursework play critical roles in fostering student readiness for STEM majors and careers, and I highly encourage all New York State high school math and science teachers to apply for this ground-breaking program, which represents the first ever statewide STEM professional development program for Pre-AP and AP teachers.”
This professional development training opportunity includes face-to-face training in addition to a robust online series of independent and interactive experiences. Training begins this summer, with the first five-day Pre-AP Summer Institutes in math and science scheduled for June 25–29. Additional five-day sessions are scheduled through August. The program is designed for teachers of grades seven through 12 in New York state public school districts and charter schools that can benefit most.
“It’s only fair that all students have access to advanced STEM courses as preparation for college and career,” Regents Chancellor Merryl H. Tisch said. “The children in New York’s lowest performing schools must have better opportunities for instruction in STEM subjects. Through this Race to the Top funded grant the College Board will help teachers strengthen and develop the skills needed to teach at the AP level.”
For more information and to see if your school is eligible, please visit http://www.p12.nysed.gov/irs/accountability/designations/2010/Nov/Schools-identified-in-improvement-status.pdf. For additional information on the program, please contact nystem@collegeboard.org.
Media Contact:
Leslie Sepuka The College Board 212-713-8052 communications@collegeboard.org
About the College Board
The College Board is a mission-driven not-for-profit organization that connects students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the College Board was created to expand access to higher education. Today, the membership association is made up of over 6,000 of the world’s leading educational institutions and is dedicated to promoting excellence and equity in education. Each year, the College Board helps more than seven million students prepare for a successful transition to college through programs and services in college readiness and college success — including the SAT® and the Advanced Placement Program®. The organization also serves the education community through research and advocacy on behalf of students, educators and schools. For further information, visit www.collegeboard.org.