Rigor restricted: Unequal participation in advanced placement

Abstract

Although participation in Advanced Placement programs has been expanding rapidly across the United States, participation among marginalized students generally, and boys of color in particular, has remained lower than for other students. In his observations at an urban high school, Suneal Kolluri found that, if they were going to put in the work required in these classes, Black and Latino boys needed to feel connected to the teachers and the curriculum. Some signed up for AP classes because they liked the teachers, but when they got the impression that those teachers didn’t believe in them, they disengaged. In addition, they didn’t see the value of the content presented in AP classes. Although teachers and counselors tried to motivate them by explaining that it would prepare them for college, the students were unconvinced that they needed this help.