Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Grading the AP Curriculum

Original Article

we need better accountability for colleges and maybe, just maybe, in the way of cross college tests. However, this will happen only if employers are interested in knowing it.

Personally, I don't have much experience with AP. But based on the comments and description, I believe College Board did the right thing in taking the auditing action even though the claim of college level is truly un-necessary.

If conduct properly, the AP test is all it need to insure the quality and accountability. By publishing the statistics of AP test at high school level is enough to hold high school accountable. The decision in whether or how to use the score for admission purposes is up to the colleges. The suggestion of widening the score range by Hoosier Ed is a good one.

If you read Frizbane Manley's comment, you will agree with me that we need better accountability for colleges and maybe, just maybe, in the way of cross college tests. However, this will happen only if employers are interested in knowing it.

==== My comment at InsideHigherEd.com
Personally, I think what College Board should do is concentrate on making the test the best it can be and publish the test statistics of high school - this will hold the high school accountable. It's not that the audit is bad, but this is the final line.

As to professor Manley's joke about customers, I am sure part of the problem is because professor give out the grade. Just suppose for a moment that if grades are evaluated by third parties, students will see professors as allies and wouldn't blame the pressure from the professor.

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