The Anniston Star presupposes that AP classes are on the chopping block even though they haven't seen a budget yet. This is not meant as a direct criticism, as the college level courses for high school students could certainly be slated for budget cuts at some places, but just a nod to the fact they are jumping the gun just a little. What really can't be argued is that for students that are ready to be challenged in a "college level" way these courses are beneficial to them. Here are some excerpts of what the Star had to say:
More and more Alabama students are scoring high enough on the AP exam to earn college credits. However, even those who only receive high school credit for the courses get to experience what college is like.---------------Snip----------------
The high school teachers who handle the classes could (and sometimes do) teach in college. They present the material to the students at the level they will encounter in college. So when AP students attend college, as most do, they are better prepared than some students who have not had the AP experience.
With the state’s budgets facing another round of proration, one of the money-saving ideas being tossed around is increasing class sizes in public schools.
Larger classes would be detrimental to learning at all levels, but in the case of AP courses, it could mean elimination.
Although more and more students are taking AP courses, the classes in many schools are still small in comparison to regular classes. If budget-cutters start factoring in the cost per student in determining which classes are taught and which are dropped, many AP courses would be vulnerable.
That would be a disaster for the state and for Alabama’s brightest students.
When looking for ways to save money, AP courses must not be sacrificed.
