Purpose

South Dade Senior High School’s purpose is to promote a culture of academic excellence by providing equitable, effective, appropriate, and engaging instructional strategies and by using data to drive instruction. South Dade supports students in their quest to reach their highest potential. The school expects that graduates will be prepared to successfully enter college, career training, or the workforce and will become productive citizens and lifelong learners.

General Information

Students who choose an Advanced Placement (AP) course must be highly motivated, willing to do outside reading, research and writing and able to undertake supplemental work on their own initiative. Some courses also require summer reading and/or writing assignments. Since the culminating assessment for an AP course is the AP Examination, all students are required to sit for the examination in May. Failure to sit for the exam will result in the student being charged the testing fee. Instructors will need to move very intensively through a tremendous amount of material to prepare students appropriately. Therefore, it is imperative that students attend class every scheduled period. If a student must be absent, it is the responsibility of the student to find out what work was missed and to complete the assignments in the designated time frame.

An AP course is considered a college-level class that may result in a student earning college credit, therefore students must be certain they are ready to meet the challenges of a college curriculum. They must be organized and self-disciplined, with above average reading and writing skills. Learning is only successful when students are actively engaged in the process; therefore, what they achieve will depend on their personal commitment and involvement.

Parents/guardians should be aware that the rigor of an AP course(s) may impact the time and preparation a student must undertake at home.

Selection Criteria

Eligibility for enrollment in Advanced Placement courses is determined using the following criteria:

· Teacher Recommendation

· Completion of Prerequisite Courses (Grade of A or B in Honors Course only)

· Classroom Performance, Conduct, and Effort (No lower than a B in conduct and no lower than a 1 in effort)

· Data provided by AP Potential

· FCAT and End of Course Exam Scores

Parent Scheduling Request

If a student is not recommended for or scheduled into an Advanced Placement course and the student and/or parent wants the student enrolled, the parent must make a formal request in writing.

Support for Students

South Dade Senior High School will provide a variety of resources to support students in Advanced Placement courses. These resources include:

· Peer Tutors

· Encouragement for students to create formal study groups

· Counseling

· Group Tutoring (pending availability)

To complete your registration for an AP course, students must sign this contract, indicating that you understand the following:

I understand that if requesting multiple AP courses I am making a commitment to undertake a very rigorous academic schedule.

I understand the commitment involved in taking a course at this level and acknowledge all that entails by signing the AP Contract.

By registering for an AP course(s) I am making a commitment for the entire duration of the course.

I understand that I CANNOT BE CHANGED FROM THIS COURSE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, EVEN IF I AM FAILING THE COURSE.

I will be in class on time every scheduled period, except in an emergency or severe illness.

I will put forth maximum effort throughout the entire year. This includes putting forth maximum effort on the AP exam(s) in May.

By signing below, I indicate that:

· I have read the AP Contract and understand the commitment my son/daughter is making to the program.

· I acknowledge that by signing the AP contracts, I understand the ramifications of this commitment.