Contents
Prelude?vi
Acknowledgments?vii
1.?Introduction?1
21st-Century Education Policy, In Brief?2
Interlude: Words, Terminology, and Language Use?4
Contribution?9
Summary of Chapters?9
2.?A Simmering Problem?11
with Kristi Donaldson
College and Career Readiness = College for All?13
From High School ?College For All? Expectation to Actually going to College?14
The Puzzle?18
Theoretical Framework?20
Methods?23
Case Studies: Four ?Spotlight States??26
3.?The Landscape of College-Preparatory Curriculum in American High Schools?31
American High School Landscape?31
Spotlight States: High School Landscape?38
College-Prep Curriculum Landscape?42
The College-Preparatory Pipeline?47
Spotlight States: The AP and IB Landscape?48
4.?The Foundation of Access to Opportunity?50
Historical Background on Access to Curriculum?50
District Access in the United States?51
District Resources: Concentration vs. Dilution?53
Unequal Consequences for Students Without Access?58
Summary: Stage 1 of the Pipeline?60
Spotlight States: How Does Access Work Within States??61
Conclusion?66
5.?In the Pipeline: Participating in AP and IB Courses?68
Brief Background on Curriculum Tracking?69
Student Enrollment in Schools with AP or IB Courses?70
Tracked-Out: No-CP Schools?71
AP and IB Participation in the United States?74
Concentration vs. Dilution of Curricula?76
Inside the Classrooms?78
Tracked-in: CP-Specialty Schools?80
Concentration vs. Dilution: Impact on Participation Rates?85
Summary: Stage 2 of the Pipeline?86
Spotlight States: How Does Participation Work Within States??89
Conclusion?93
6.?The Last Stage of the Pipeline: Passing the Exams?95
U.S. History on Testing Knowledge: States? Rights?96
AP Exams?97
Summary: Stage 3 of the Pipeline?110
Spotlight States: How Does AP Testing Work Within States??112
Conclusion?115
7.?College-Prep Credentials: Who Gets Nothing, Who Gets Swindled, and Who Gets the Real Quality?117
Segregated Learning?120
New to the Educational Marketplace: The Counterfeit Credential?127
Research Implications?128
Reflection?130
Conclusion?130
8.?Implications and Thoughts on Moving Forward?132
How Did We Get Here??133
Data Analysis and Social Structures?134
College Admissions?136
Policies on the Horizon?136
Students and Families?138
Conclusion?139
Notes?140
References?144
Index?161
About the Author?168