When educators see that two students received a B in a particular course in two different schools and/or years, does it indicate the same level of understanding and achievement for both students? This paper addresses the assumption that grades are equivalent within subjects across schools and years. By comparing course grades to a standardized…

The Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program was developed to increase the number of secondary students who participate in rigorous academic courses, to accelerate student learning, and to improve student performance. The AVID program in the Houston Independent School District (HISD) targets students who (1) are in the academic…

Standardized testing for college admissions has grown exponentially since the first administration of the old "College Boards" in 1901. This paper surveys major developments since then: the introduction of the "Scholastic Aptitude Test" in 1926, designed to tap students' general analytic ability; E.F. Lindquist's creation of…

Having celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 2005, the Advanced Placement (AP) program has received quite a bit of attention in the past few years due mainly to its exponential growth in popularity. While much of this attention has been positive, a significant amount of criticism has attacked the assumptions of the AP program, aligning it with…

This description of the Advanced Placement Program in Spanish for secondary school students furnishes (1) goals of the course, (2) a reading list to be used in preparation for the exam, and (3) an outline of the test. Examples and achievement standards are offered with sample test items. Interested individuals and institutions are also provided…

This description of the Advanced Placement Program in German for secondary school students furnishes (1) the goals of the course, (2) a reading list to be used in preparation for the exam, and (3) an outline of the test. Examples and achievement standards are offered with sample test items. Interested individuals and institutions are also provided…

This description of the Advanced Placement Program in French for secondary school students furnishes (1) goals of the course, (2) a reading list to be used in preparation for the exam, and (3) an outline of the test. Examples and achievement standards are offered with sample test items. Interested individuals and institutions are also provided…

This description of the Advanced Placement Program in Latin for secondary school students furnishes the scope of the four courses (Vergil, Comedy, Lyric, and Prose) on which the tests are based and outlines of each test. Examples and achievement standards are offered with sample test items. Interested individuals and institutions are also provided…