Twenty new high schools are joining AdvanceKentucky, bringing to 64 the number of high schools in the state that are implementing the AP Teacher Training and Incentive Program (APTIP).

This program involves content-rich teacher training and extensive support and incentives for students and teachers for achieving qualifying scores (3 or higher) on Advanced Placement (AP) exams in mathematics, science and English.

The model has demonstrated its ability in Kentucky schools to dramatically increase access to and accelerate learning in rigorous mathematics, science and English courses, as shown by qualifying scores on AP exams, particularly among underrepresented student populations.


On the most recent 2010 AP exams, the 28 AdvanceKentucky schools alone contributed 43 percent of all new qualifying scores (QS) earned across Kentucky and 69 percent of new QS earned by minority students. Participants performed at up to 12 times the national rate of one-year growth in student performance.

The 20 high schools named for Cohort 4 are:

  • Allen County Scottsville
  • Apollo (Daviess County)
  • Bell County
  • Betsy Layne (Floyd County)
  • Bracken County
  • Campbell County
  • Daviess County
  • Glasgow (Glasgow Independent)
  • Hancock County
  • Jackson County
  • Jenkins (Jenkins Independent)
  • Knox Central (Knox County)
  • Lynn Camp (Knox County)
  • Marshall County
  • Mayfield (Mayfield Independent)
  • McLean County
  • Metcalfe County
  • Pikeville (Pikeville Independent)
  • Owen County
  • Washington County

The student profile of Cohort 4 high schools includes 53 percent free and reduced lunch (ranging from 24 percent to 85 percent) and 5 percent minority (African American and Hispanic ranging from less than 1 percent to 37 percent). Mathematics, science and English (MSE) AP enrollments for 2011-12 school year at Cohort 4 schools are projected to increase140 percent above 2010-11 figures before they entered the program.

The 64 AdvanceKentucky schools are in 52 school districts, involve 480 AP teachers and more than 17,000 AP MSE enrollments in the 2011-12 school year. At least 440 MSE AP courses are planned in the participating districts for the 2011-12 school year including calculus, statistics, computer science, biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science, English Language and English Literature.

AdvanceKentucky is funded by a $13.2 million grant from the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI), which is supported by ExxonMobil, Dell and Gates Foundations, Lockheed and others.

Kentucky sponsors include the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE), Council on Postsecondary Education and the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation. AdvanceKentucky has received federal grants from Appalachian Regional Commission and U.S. Department of Education through KDE.

Schools interested in applying to AdvanceKentucky for participation in Cohort 5 may visit advanceky.com for application materials or e-mail Joanne Lang for more information.
 
Ad campaign spotlights APTIP
In recognition of the national importance placed on the success of NMSI-APTIP, ExxonMobil recently launched a national ad campaign during the ESPN/CBS-TV sports coverage of the 2011 Masters Golf Tournament spotlighting students and teachers from across the country who are participating in APTIP, including AdvanceKentucky. The new commercials feature profiles of AP students and teachers as well as video footage filmed on location at schools around the country.