FWISD WINS $2.9 MILLION AWARD FOR AP COURSES 

Fort Worth, Texas – The Fort Worth Independent School District has received a $2,982,309 award from the U.S. Department of Education’s Advanced Placement Incentive Award program. This award will be dedicated to a three-year program to fund quality pre-AP and AP instruction at FWISD’s ten high-needs pyramids.   

“This is absolutely wonderful news!  I am so proud of everyone involved,” said FWISD Superintendent Melody Johnson. “Creating a college-bound culture is one of our top priorities and this will serve that goal and our students well.” 

The program is expected to increase access to and success on both pre-AP and AP courses and exams by:

• Improving pre-AP programs at FWISD’s high needs feeder middle schools. FWISD will align middle school coursework with high school offerings and provide all pre-AP teachers with research-based professional development.
• Increasing uniform AP offerings to ensure a level of rigor that prepares students for college. FWISD will introduce critical needs languages (Chinese and/or Japanese) at all ACCESS schools by 2013 and ensure that core pre-AP and AP courses are taught at all grant campuses.
• Improving access to, understanding of, and accommodation for traditionally at-risk populations in AP courses. FWISD will establish summer Scholars and Junior Scholars Academies to provide additional enrichment and access to online AP courses.
• Improving the success rate of all students on AP exams by ensuring high quality of instruction by and outstanding content knowledge of all AP teachers. FWISD will provide tuition assistance to ACCESS teachers pursuing graduate level degrees in their content areas, and ensure participation in professional development activities.  

The grant award will serve 7^th and 8^th grade students served by the following high schools and their feeder middle schools: