The Advanced Placement program began in the mid-1950s on the East Coast, and although it has become, according to former U.S. Education Secretary Richard Riley, “the gold standard,” Iowa’s participation has been historically low. Until recently, Iowa ranked among the lowest in the nation on AP exams per student population, in part because of the large rural demographic.
Despite the substantial increase in the number of Iowa students taking AP exams since 2001, student performance remains high. In 2010, 64.5% of Iowa’s students scored a 3 or better on the AP exams, which compares favorably to the 2010 national average of 57.9% of students who scored a 3 or better.
AP in Iowa, 2001-2010*
| Year | ||
| Indicators of Growth in Iowa* | 2001 | 2010 |
| Number of high schools that offered at least one AP exam | 156 | 217 |
| Number of AP exams taken | 5,995 | 14,028 |
| Number of students taking at least one AP exam | 4,069 | 8,979 |
| Percentage of exams with a score of 3 or higher | 67% | 64.5% |
*Based on College Board data, which includes accredited and non-accredited Iowa schools.
The Belin-Blank Center is committed to delivering AP programs to Iowa’s students and support for professional development to teachers through multiple programs.
Iowa Online Advanced Placement Academy
The Belin-Blank Center, in partnership with the Iowa Department of Education, has made a concerted effort to bring AP opportunities to all schools in Iowa, but especially to rural schools, so that geography will not determine educational opportunity.
The Iowa Online AP Academy (IOAPA), established in 2001 with the support of Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), is the successful program through which the Belin-Blank Center and the Iowa Department of Education provide online AP courses, exams, and materials to all students at accredited high schools in Iowa.
Senior Year Plus Program
In 2008, the Iowa legislature passed the Senior Year Plus program (Iowa Code 261E) “to provide increased and more equal access to college credit and advancement placement courses” (Senior Year Plus: Guide for Educators and Educational Administrators, November 2009, Iowa Department of Education, p. 5).
The Senior Year Plus statute (Iowa Code 261E.4) “compels all school districts to make AP courses available to students” (Senior Year Plus: Guide for Educators and Educational Administrators, p. 14).
Parents and students should expect that school districts will comply with the state code that defines school district obligations for providing advanced coursework.
Schools that are “unable to offer AP courses directly may expand opportunities to students through the Iowa Online AP Academy (IOAPA)” (Senior Year Plus: Guide for Educators and Educational Administrators, p. 14).
Advanced Placement Teaching Training Institute
The Belin-Blank Center hosts the Advanced Placement Teacher Training Institute (APTTI), a professional development opportunity, to prepare teachers to deliver AP courses successfully. The next APTTI will be at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, from July 11-14, 2011.
The Senior Year Plus program includes a provision for teacher preparation for teaching AP courses: “A school district shall ensure that advanced placement course teachers are appropriately licensed by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners in accordance with Iowa Code Chapter 272 and meet the minimum certification requirements of the national organization that administers the advanced placement program” (Senior Year Plus: Guide for Educators and Educational Administrators, p. 14).