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[Phys-L] Common Core, calculus, and AP physics



This is what School Superintendents are hearing from the College Board. David Coleman, on of the two architects of the Common Core, has been recently appointed to head the College Board (home of AP and SAT) and promised to "align them" with the Common Core. Trevor Packer is the College Board Senior VP in charge of the AP program.

This seems to say rather clearly that the College Board thinks that under the Common Core the chances of high school students taking calculus are rather slim. Further, it is unclear what is the "algebra" that the College Board thinks can be offered as a "college" course (which is what AP is supposed to represent).

Some may like it, others not, but if the Common Core comes to pass one wonders what kind of AP physics will still be offered in the high school.

Ze'ev

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*College Board: Reconciling AP Exams With Common Core*
http://www.aasa.org/content.aspx?id=27296

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/Despite these measures, there are still difficulties in reconciling many AP courses with the Common Core. In particular, AP Calculus is in conflict with the Common Core, Packer said, and it lies outside the sequence of the Common Core because of the fear that it may unnecessarily rush students into advanced math classes for which they are not prepared./

/The College Board suggests a solution to the problem. of AP Calculus "If you're worried about AP Calculus and fidelity to the Common Core, we recommend AP Statistics and AP Computer Science," he told conference attendees./

/Moreover, the College Board may offer an AP Algebra course (although no plans are definite), which may supplant AP Calculus, particularly in schools rigidly adhering to the Common Core standards./