does anyone's HS refuse to allow their kid to take AP?

<p>Call around and see if she can take it at an area private school. Homeschoolers do this all the time. It may be a more expensive route, but so what if it will let her take the exam. </p>

<p>Cobrat: agree. And would add some schools discourage their students from taking the AP test (esp in math for exaple the students may be in BC calc but told to take the AB test). My son’s college said that kids with a 4 on the chem AP should still start over in chem, I am guessing because the AP course did not meet the standards. I noticed that my current senior’s AP chem teacher said that the test has been revamped this years. </p>

<p>My son’s HS uses Academic GPA (unweighted) for their criteria if there is over enrollment in AP classes which is a problem since there are many Non-Honors or Non-AP students that have a higher GPA than the Honors/AP students. I made a fuss with the Vice Principal and got 10 parents to send emails regarding how they were handling the AP class waitlists. My younger son, signed up for 5 AP’s was told he would only get into 2 at the end of his Junior year. Miraculously, I got a call during the summer prior to his Senior year and they suddenly had room for him in the AP classes. Being a squeaky wheel definitely helps.</p>

<p>I’d probably be a squeaky wheel in that case too. Luckily our high school has a rubric and for example looks at the students over English GPA before allowing them into AP World History. This makes sense because it does require writing. However they do not look at the students Math grade because it’s not going to show whether they would be successful in a History class. They would look at a students math grades for say AP chemistry though.</p>

<p>Unless they can document why she cannot be in it, they are discriminating against her and not providing FAPE - free and appropriate public education.</p>

<p>Here are a few links that may be of interest:
<a href=“http://www.wrightslaw.com/blog/?p=9338”>School Says, “No Advanced Classes for Kids with IEPs” | Wrightslaw Way;

<p><a href=“Exam Accommodations – AP Students | College Board”>Get the Most Out of AP – AP Students | College Board;

<p>You should look into the 2E (twice exceptional) community as well.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.2enewsletter.com/topic_2e_what_is.html”>http://www.2enewsletter.com/topic_2e_what_is.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>This is what- third or fourth week of school? And another two weeks chewed up arguing with the administration, and then the kid has to make up 5-6 weeks of work just to be at baseline?</p>

<p>As far as my daughter is concerned, I know there is no chance for her to be in the AP due to her disability, I know it is discrimination and I will deal with the school. I was just curious to see what happens to other school… I know one in NJ that while the teachers made recommendation, they will just let the kids to take the AP classes if they choose to.</p>

<p>Yes, I am angry because this is the ONLY course she can take the AP/Honor level class and she worked over 14 months for it.</p>

<p>My son’s school is somewhat lenient getting into AP courses, if you fight. The last time, they let him into two AP courses and then sent him a threatening letter to throw him out after a week. He has a B- and an A in the two courses, so they shouldn’t have to :)</p>

<p>Someone posted that his HS has no criteria at all.</p>

<p>Anyway, OP, do you think she could qualify for an online AP course here:
<a href=“http://cty.jhu.edu/ctyonline/apply/eligibility.html”>http://cty.jhu.edu/ctyonline/apply/eligibility.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>They actually have not quite started yet (next week I believe, and then end in April in time for the AP exam), and some classes are still open. Out of your pocket of course, but could be a great option for a special needs kid. We have found their course sites very well organized and everything spelled out - no “what did the teacher say when?”.</p>

<p>At my school AP classes are extremely lenient in who they let in. When we sign up for classes, we are “required” to get a teacher’s signature, but before school starts we often just mingle-mangle our schedules to our fitting, arbitrarily removing or adding AP classes of interest. This does not reduce the quality of the classes by any means, though. They seem to self select, for example my AP Chem class contains some of the smartest kids in the school.</p>

<p>My son (no disability) was not recommended for honors English in 11th grade (without that, he would not have been able to take AP in 12th). He had an A in all of his prior English classes. I asked why…and was told he was not well behaved. Ahem…really? That is a reason to NOT recommend a student for a higher level class? </p>

<p>I got as far as the HS principal…the GC refused to advocate on my son’s behalf. I was prepared to go to the board of education with a pile of his papers and all of his progress reports. Luckily, the principal intervened, and contacted the English department chair person…and poof…DS was enrolled in the class.</p>

<p>Addendum 1. DS got an A in 11th honors English, and an A in AP Shakespeare in 12th grade, and a 5 on the AP exam…and actually got credit for two English literature classes at his college…required ones too…so it was very nice that he didn’t have to take them!</p>

<p>Addendum 2. The teacher who refused to recommend him was a long term sub, it turned out. She was not asked to return when a permanent position opened up the following year.</p>

<p>I would start with the science department chairperson, then the guidance counselor, then the special education case manager, then the principal.</p>

<p>You need to know why your kiddo is not being permitted to take this course. There might actually be a good reason…maybe…but they should be telling you what it is if there is one!</p>

<p>In our HS AP classes are very intense. You have to test into English or SS AP classes. To qualify for calculus and science AP you need be in the upper level science and math classes in junior year and have a B or better average in them. </p>

<p>Our high school and even the middle school tried that with my child who had an IEP. He was smart and always had straight A’s, until they found out he had a disability. Then the GT teacher and the preAP teachers tried to kick him out. They claimed they did not have to legally have anyone in their classes with IEPs. </p>

<p>They were wrong. What they were doing was illegal. First I fought it. But even though they were legally required to keep him, they were abusive. They would not speak to him. They would refuse to take papers he would turn in, and so on. I finally filed a complaint with the federal government (you can do it online. It used to be you have to print the complaint form and fill it out and mail it in. I do not know if it is still that way). After that, the district decided it was best to give my children (both kids because it is policy when one child has an in district transfer, they offer it to the entire family) an in-district transfer. That child is in college now. He is a sophomore. </p>

<p>For me, I will never public school again. I am disgusted and revolted by all that went on there. </p>

<p>thumper1
good for your kid, just imagine if they were successful to keep your son out…
I have various complaint with this district, in one instance, the person who did not “recommend” my kid for another Science class was not even qualified for the class he taught.</p>

<p>rhandco,</p>

<p>I am planning to register her for an online course but not jhu</p>

<p>Imkh70,
what is the basis of your complaint? they admitted your child for AP, therefore, it couldn’t be discrimination, right?
was it retaliation?</p>

<p>You seem to be asking this question rather late, but I will answer. </p>

<p>Our school also has a parent override. Counselors and past teachers recommend, but parents can override the rec. We do have space issues in some classes. (In the past there have been big budget cuts which led to overfull AP classes.) In those instances, the most tenacious wins. Kids who don’t get in, say Calculus BC, due to space limitations can keep asking about an opening. Generally somebody drops and a space becomes available. This plan does require the kid to keep up with the class work, however. </p>

<p>Our school is pretty liberal about placement imho. The counselors do try to place kids in programs like AVID or kids with special needs who can handle one AP at a time in some AP classes. </p>