Equity in Education:
Minority Students’ Participation
in Honors/AP Programs
Molly Killingsworth, Ph.D.
Auburn University
“True equity is not achieved until
the demographics of AP
participation and performance
reflect the demographics of the
nation.”
---CollegeBoard, 2010
Disparity Index
Representation in SEHS AP Classes by Ethnicity
% of all students
2009 2010 2011
White
Minority
68%
30%
68%
32%
64%
36%
% of AP students
2009 2010 2011
Disparity Index
2009 2010 2011
88%
11%
1.28
.37
86%
14%
83%
17%
1.24
.44
1.30
.47
Representation in SEHS Honors Classes by Ethnicity
% of all students
2009 2010 2011
White
Minority
68%
30%
68%
32%
64%
36%
% of honors students
2009 2010 2011
83%
17%
78%
22%
77%
23%
Disparity Index
2009 2010 2011
1.20
.57
1.14
.69
1.18
.64
Review of Literature

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Achievement Gap-Enrollment Gap
Placement
Tracking
Teacher Expectations
Racialized Peer Pressure
“It’s not just for the elite, it’s for the
prepared” (CollegeBoard, 2004).
Invitational Theory
DIVERSITY
Relationships &
Environment
EQUITY
EXPECTATION

Send messages that
help students develop
to fullest potential
ENLISTMENT
ENCOURAGEMENT

Identifying and
changing forces that
destroy potential.
EMPOWERMENT
ENJOYMENT
Survey Results

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Minority students didn’t feel a part
of the school
Students felt unaware of their
options/didn’t see benefit
Not adequately guided
Influence on course selection
School environment critical for
minority students
Open-ended Survey Question
Responses to " What can we do at this school to
support & encourage students to take more
advanced/ honors or AP courses?"
Misc. 18.3%
Teachers 16.5%
Don't
Know/
Nothing 12.8%
Classes 17.1%
Environment 35.3%
Now what??????

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Screening, recruitment, and
identification procedures
Vertical articulation
Parental Involvement
School Environment
Safety Nets
Action Steps (AP courses)

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Teacher changes
Students promoting classes
AP Parents’ Night
Safety nets
schedule changes, AP study hall
Action Steps
(PreAP Courses)


Placement
Explore
ARMT
benchmark
placement test
teacher recommendations
student’s selections
Send parent letters home
Contact Information
Molly Killingsworth, Ph.D.
Curriculum Supervisor
Elmore County Public Schools
molly.killingsworth@elmoreco.com

Killingsworth, M. (2011). Equity in Education.
Minority students’ participation in honors and
advanced placement programs. (Dissertation).
Auburn University, Auburn, AL.