State, Education, and Community Leaders Spotlight AP African American Studies in Rhode Island Schools

Published on Thursday, April 11, 2024

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green, Senator Jonathon Acosta, Rhode Island Black Heritage Society (RIBHS) Consulting Historian Keith Stokes, and College Board Senior Program Manager for AP African American Studies Dr. Brandi Waters joined educators on Wednesday at the Rhode Island State House to spotlight the new Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies course in Rhode Island schools. E-Cubed Academy in Providence is among the nearly 700 schools nationwide piloting the course during the 2023-2024 school year. State leaders noted that all local education agencies can elect to offer the course beginning this fall.  

“All students deserve access to Advanced Placement coursework. In addition to offering rigorous academic challenges, AP courses provide students with the opportunity to earn college credits, potentially saving them time and money on their journey towards a degree,” said Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green. “E-Cubed’s participation in this national pilot program underscores the Providence Public School District’s commitment to providing students with access to high-quality, inclusive education. By offering AP African American Studies, Rhode Island aims to broaden students' perspectives, enhance their critical thinking skills, and prepare them to thrive in an increasingly diverse and interconnected world." 

The Advanced Placement Program enables high school students to pursue college-level studies and earn college credits based on AP exam performance. According to College Board, AP African American Studies is an “interdisciplinary course that examines the diversity of African American experiences through direct encounters with rich and varied sources.” Students explore key topics that extend from “early African kingdoms to the ongoing challenges and achievements of the contemporary moment.”  

"I am thrilled that students in our state will have the opportunity to be introduced to the works of W.E.B. Du Bois, Lorraine Hansberry, Maya Angelou, Aimé Césaire, Carter Godwin Woodson, Anna Julia Cooper, and so many others who gave us critical lenses through which to understand our world,” said Senator Jonathon Acosta. “An educated population is a more democratic one and this course offering is a great step in that direction. Too often we roll out initiatives without the appropriate resources and support to execute them. I want to commend RIDE for offering workshops this summer for instructors interested in teaching these materials.” 

E-Cubed Academy is among the nearly 700 schools nationwide piloting the course during the 2023-2024 school year. Sixty schools piloted the course in 2022-2023. Research shows that taking just one AP course in high school can improve students’ first-year college GPA and their likelihood of graduating college in four years with a bachelor’s degree. According to College Board, Rhode Island has the largest ten-year increase in the percentage of students scoring a 3 or higher on an AP exam. Additionally, Rhode Island is sixth in the nation in the ten-year growth of Black students taking an AP exam, increasing nearly 10 percentage points to approximately 30% between 2013 and 2023. 

“I’m thrilled that more students across Rhode Island will be able to take part in a course that we’ve heard has been a positive, transformative experience for pilot students and teachers everywhere,” said Dr. Brandi Waters, senior director and program manager for AP African American Studies. “This is a course that invites students to develop analytical skills while examining African Americans’ wide-ranging experiences, contributions, and creativity, and the impact of the broader African diaspora on the world we live in.”  

At E-Cubed Academy in Providence, AP African American Studies is being co-taught by social studies teacher John Healy and English teacher Michael Johnson. The course has been supported by higher education partners including University of Rhode Island, the Community College of Rhode Island, Roger Williams University, and Providence College, which have agreed to accept AP African American Studies for credit at their institutions.  

“The resounding message that I hear from our students in AP African American Studies is that they see themselves in this course,” said Dr. Matt Juda, Principal at E-Cubed Academy. “It fills a gap in their educational journey by exposing students to history and culture in a way they have not previously experienced in school. In addition, our students who have not traditionally been interested in Advanced Placement courses are excited and inspired by the new coursework." 

Educators are invited to visit the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society’s Gilded Age Newport in Color exhibit through June 2024. The artifacts on display create local curriculum resources for educators to utilize in the AP African American Studies coursework. The Rhode Island Black Heritage Society’s primary mission is the preservation of African Diaspora historical artifacts – books, art, papers and images, as well as facilitating the interpretation of history to enlighten others and advancing the culture and contributions of the African Heritage Community in Rhode Island. 

The expansion of AP in Rhode Island comes as a direct result of statewide policies to ensure students leave high school prepared for the next phase of their educational journey, both professionally and academically. The Rhode Island Readiness-Based Graduation Requirements and inclusion of AP information in school accountability measures released by RIDE demonstrate a system of support that assures AP and career and technical education (CTE) are the gold standard for all students. This system of support is made possible in part by legislative support that funds free, high-quality professional development and training for teachers and AP test waivers for students. 

In May, RIDE will offer five Pre-AP content workshops in Math, ELA, Social Studies, Science, and the Arts. Participants who complete the training will earn a $200 stipend. In June, RIDE will offer three AP Summer Institutes including African American Studies, Seminar, and Spanish Language and Culture. Participants who complete the training will receive a $1,200 stipend. Interested educators can learn more and register for these opportunities at https://www.prepare-ri.org/advanced-placement-pd. 

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