RIDE Partners with College Board to Offer Free Advanced Placement Professional Development for Educators, Administrators

Published on Thursday, October 13, 2022

Free workshops October 19-22 include Achieving Equity in AP, Computer Science Principles and more

PROVIDENCE, RI — Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green and the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) are encouraging Advanced Placement educators and administrators to participate in free professional development being held this month in partnership with College Board. The workshops, which will take place October 19-22, will focus on courses and exams, teaching strategies and methodology, equity and improving student outcomes. 

“Professional development is vital to sustaining strong AP programs in our schools and ensuring educator and student success,” said Council on Elementary and Secondary Education Chair Patti DiCenso. "I encourage educators to browse offerings and register to secure their spot.” 

“These free workshops are excellent opportunities for our educators to continue their learning, collaborate, and better prepare our students for college and career,” said Commissioner Infante-Green. “The COVID-19 pandemic impacted all students academically, socially and emotionally, and it is our duty to help accelerate their learning and move them forward with proper support. I encourage educators to consider enrolling in these valuable workshops.” 

The Achieving Equity in AP workshop explores how to create AP programs devoted to improving access to and equity in advanced academics for students from all populations. Additionally, RIDE and College Board will offer Pre-AP readiness workshops, ideal for middle and high school administrators and teachers that are interested in Pre-AP but not quite ready to implement the program. Pre-AP Readiness Workshops are professional learning opportunities that orient participants to the program’s design and pedagogy. 

“We know that students from all backgrounds can succeed in advanced classes when they have strong preparation and steady encouragement,” said Trevor Packer, head of the AP Program. “By offering an early introduction to college-level work, teachers can shape their students’ dreams and ambitions at a crucial moment.” 

Rhode Island has made great strides in AP participation and achievement in the last decade. In the spring, College Board announced Rhode Island has the largest 10-year growth percentage of public high school graduates taking an AP exam during high school. Rhode Island also had the largest improvement in AP pass rates of any state over the past 10 and five years. More information about the exciting news can be found in this press release.   

Workshops being offered at no cost include:  

• Achieving Equity in AP 
• Advanced Placement Summer Institute: AP US Government and Politics 
• Advanced Placement Summer Institute: AP Computer Science Principles 
• Pre-AP Readiness Workshop: Leadership 
• Pre-AP ELA: Texts Take Center Stage 
• Pre-AP Mathematics: Developing Mathematical Knowledge Within a Learner Centered Classroom 
• Pre-AP Science: Building Conceptual Understanding Using Analytical Reading and Writing 
• Pre-AP Social Studies: Fostering Shared Principles 

All workshops will take place in person at the Shepard Building in Downtown Providence, located at 255 Westminster Street, Providence. Breakfast and lunch will be served daily. Free parking will be available at the Rhode Island Convention Center.  

Space is limited to 25-30 participants per workshop. Interested attendees are encouraged to register soon in order to secure their spot. Registration and workshop details can be found at: https://www.prepare-ri.org/advanced-placement-pd. 

About PrepareRI: 

PrepareRI is an initiative of the Rhode Island state government, in partnership with businesses, schools, universities, and non-profits across the state. PrepareRI’s ambitious goals for students cannot be accomplished by any single agency or organization. With that in mind, PrepareRI is run by an inter-agency task force (“PrepareRI Core Team”) that includes the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE), the Governor’s Workforce Board (GWB), and the Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner (OPC). These three agencies, each bring a unique frame of reference to the interagency collaboration of PrepareRI. Consistent governance, shared goals, and a collaborative mission have made this initiative successful. The PrepareRI 2.0 Action plan was approved as the state’s PreK-20 Strategic Education Plan by the statewide Board of Education in February 2022. Read more at https://www.prepare-ri.org 

About College Board: 

College Board is a mission-driven not-for-profit membership organization that connects students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, College Board was created to expand access to higher education. Today, the membership association is made up of over 6,000 of the world’s leading educational institutions and is dedicated to promoting excellence and equity in education. Each year, College Board helps more than 7 million students prepare for a successful transition to college through programs and services in college readiness and college success–including the SAT, the Advanced Placement Program, and BigFuture. The organization also serves the education community through research and advocacy on behalf of students, educators, and schools. For further information, visit collegeboard.org.