The AP classes usually use the same textbooks that introductory college courses use. Because they are generally accelerated and harder than the rest of the high school curricula, the courses can help prepare students for the difficulties of college work. Students that do well on AP tests receive credit for their work - giving them a head start and possibly enabling them to pass out of prequisites for some college classes. AP classes give students a taste of what lies ahead in college and help prepare them for the nature of college work.
But one problem that many public school systems have in trying to establish the classes is a lack of funds. Since the courses require different textbooks and high-quality faculty to teach them, they can often exceed the cost of more run-of-the-mill courses. This denies schools in more economically disadvantaged neighborhoods the option to offer such classes - resulting in a greater disparity in not only the schools' respective curricula but also in the preparedness of their respective graduates. The government should allocate more money to support poorer schools is needed to help counteract this inequity.
School districts should also make sure that all students that are interested in taking advanced coursework have the opportunity to, regardless of the subject. There presently are 18 different subjects covered by AP tests, but most schools do not offer classes for all of them. Schools should expand the breadth of the courses offered to ensure that students with a wide variety of academic interests have access to the advanced classes. Further, schools should try to encourage more than just their top-of-the-line students to take the classes. Expanding the number of students involved in the programs will likely benefit schools' overall academic quality.
With the crisis facing many public schools, including those in Ann Arbor, programs like the Advancement Placement tests could benefit students' ability to attain higher education. The government must ensure that economic blockades do not hinder schools' ability to offer such opportunities.