Equity and Advanced Placement: Examining a School-Based Initiative to Remove Enrollment Barriers for African American Students

Abstract

The ongoing underrepresentation of African American (AA) students in Advanced Placement (AP) courses is a well-documented phenomenon. In order to provide a meaningful contribution to this area of research, the focus of practice was studied within the unique context of a North Carolina high school containing a majority African American student population and a large (26) number of face-to-face AP course offerings. The purpose of this case study was to analyze the effects of support and recruitment strategies designed and implemented by a Community of Practice (CoP) within the school while examining the following: the effect of race on African American students' educational experiences and enrollment decisions and the effect school personnel have on African American students' enrollment decisions. Critical Race Theory (CRT) was the conceptual framework that guided this focus of practice as CRT has been proven as a powerful explanatory tool in acknowledging the sustained inequity experienced by minority groups and may be used to understand, resist, and overcome educational barriers for marginalized student populations (Parker et al., 1999). Findings of this study support that schools intentionally utilizing a race-conscience approach in their recruitment and recommendation practices and creating systems of student support can have a positive effect on African American AP enrollment. The practice and research implications for educational practitioners have the ability to foster positive social change and reduce ongoing, racial disparities within AP classrooms.