Area schools to benefit from AP training grants

ATLANTA - Five school systems in the north Georgia area will share in grant money from the Gouizeta Foundation of Atlanta to boost participation in Advanced Placement, or AP, classes.

The $2.6 million will help the selected school districts to enhance their pipeline of students who are ready to take the more rigorous AP classes, thus increasing the opportunity for those students to exempt college level classes.

The schools were selected based on the population of Hispanic students in the districts, although the grant money will pay for teacher training that will benefit all students.

Jamey Moore with Gainesville City Schools said training for administrators in the 11 selected school districts begins this summer. Then, selected teachers in grades 6 through 12 will be prepared to use their training with students in the fall.

"The training from the College Board will prepare those teachers to create that pipeline of students that are ready for AP coursework at the high school," said Moore.

In addition to Gainesville City and Hall County Schools, the grant includes Atlanta City, Buford City, Cherokee, Cobb, Dalton City, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett and Valdosta City Schools. The grant expands over three years and is administered by the College Board organization.

Year one workshops are "Setting the Cornerstones" and "Vertical Teams." Year two sessions include "Effective Thinking Strategies." Year 3 will include "AP/Pre-AP Conference" and sessions on "Reflection and Action Planning Seminars," according to school officials.

Data will be monitored and progress reported by the College Board.