Rationale

Studies support that students enrolled in Advance Placement courses receive many benefits such as college credit at a reduced cost, taking a more in-depth course and improving study skills.  What studies do not show and what can only be surmised from anecdotal evidence, is that teachers of Advance Placement courses also enjoy many benefits from teaching A.P. courses. Through preparing their students for success on the Advanced Placement test, teachers must take their content and lessons to an academic level that might not normally be reached. Teachers must also provide quality instruction at an accelerated pace. Pedagogical lessons that an Advance Placement teacher might learn while teaching such a rigorous course can be transferred to a lower level course of the same content, enriching the academic experience for all students.

 Recently the Washington Post published that student enrollment in A.P. courses has increase 200% since 1995 and it is well know that the number of A.P. courses offered in Delaware public school has increased in a similar fashion. In this pro-A.P. climate, the opposite movement seems to be occurring for A.P. Economics enrollment in the state of Delaware. For the 2008-2009 academic school year only four Delaware public schools out of a total of twenty-five offer A.P. Economics to their students.

The main reason for the low numbers of AP Economics courses may be contributed to the lack of confident and qualified teachers. Given the nature of economics as a discipline and the nature of the typical social studies teacher’s training, most social studies teachers feel intimidated by the prospect of teaching an AP Economics course for the first time. Another reason is a lack of interest by the students. It may be said that the second reason is created by the first. So igniting student interest in the course can be achieved by training and supporting A.P. Economics teachers.

 Organizational Plan and Goals

The Delaware State AP Economics Teacher Network is a group dedicated to sharing and seeking content knowledge and effective teaching strategies. Listed below are the tentative goals for the AP Economics Teacher Network.

1. Meet on a monthly meeting during the 10 month academic year and hold one strategic planning meeting once over the two month summer vacation period.
2.  Share content knowledge as needed by the group.
3. Share effective teaching strategies and lesson plans
4. Support the implementation of AP Economics courses in Delaware public high schools.
5. Play an active roll in implementation of AP Economics courses over 2008-2009 school year in two schools.
6. Publish a webpage for the group to assist it with meeting its goals.

The goals of the network will be achieved by following the steps listed below.

Step one: Identify existing AP Economics teachers

Step Two: Meet with Delaware’s existing AP Economics teachers interested in participating with the group.

Step Three: Identify existing teachers’ needs

Step Four: Determine the groups short and long term goals

Step Five: Publish a website designed to help the group meet its goals.

Step Six: Prepare a program for new AP Economics Teachers

1. Assist with College Board course approval
2. Assist with course outline /textbook selection
3. Assist with content and daily lessons.
4. Provide continued assistance on a daily basis.

Step Seven: Contact all Delaware high school principles or AP coordinators seeking commitments to implement AP Economics program in their schools.

Marketing Strategies

A database of current Delaware AP Economic teachers has been created and will be maintained for accuracy. Personal invitations for the networks meeting will be extended by telephone or email to AP Economics teachers. This method is used to increase participation because of the “personal” aspect of the invitation. The Delaware AP
Economics Teachers Network will also be publicized biannually to social studies departments and high school administrations through flyers and letters.

The success of the program will be determined by actual number of meetings held during the year and the attendance at each meeting. The program can also be successful if it helps implement an A.P. Economics course in at least two Delaware public High Schools per academic year.