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Good News about Texas Public Schools
'Springboard to Success': Native Spanish-speaking Students Perform Well on AP
This article originally appeared in the June 2005 Texas Lone Star.
Approximately 900 Texas eighth-grade students who are native Spanish-speakers qualified to receive college course credit because of the scores they earned on the College Board's Advanced Placement Spanish language exam in spring 2004, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) reported in January.
  Ninety-two percent of 975 Texas eighth-grade students who are native Spanish-speakers earned a score of 3 or better on the AP exam last spring.
By scoring a 3 or better on the exam, the eighth-graders are eligible to qualify for college credit for the AP course at most colleges and universities. Statewide, 80 percent of Texas students in grades 8-12 who took the Spanish exam in 2004 received scores of 3 or higher.
The middle school students took the exam as part of a program sponsored by TEA through a U.S. Department of Education (USDE) Advanced Placement Incentive (API) program grant. The goal of the Texas Advanced Placement Spanish Language Middle School Program is to promote student success and self-confidence, while supporting and developing student aspirations and preparation for college.
Dalissa Brandenburg, director of TEA's Advanced Academic Programs, said the program was designed to involve students who are traditionally underrepresented in higher education in college preparatory coursework.
"We wanted to help these students use their native language as an academic asset and a springboard to college success," Brandenburg said.
A Successful Pilot Program
Research shows that students who take AP courses and exams are much more likely than their peers to complete a bachelor's degree in four years or less.
Possible scores on AP exams in all subject areas range from 1 to 5, with scores of 3, 4, or 5 typically considered high enough to earn credit hours at most higher education institutions. By earning college course credit through the AP program, students can complete college degrees sooner.
TEA originally piloted the AP Spanish Language Middle School Program in 2000, working with seven school districts across the state. Almost 90 percent of the first group of students participating in the program received passing scores on the AP exam.
Local program coordinators also reported that students demonstrated improved performance in other courses, especially English courses, and had improved attendance and discipline records. Many participating students went on to take more advanced courses in high school.
Based on the success of the pilot, TEA sought the API grant to offer the program to additional districts in the state. In 2003-04, approximately 1,000 students statewide participated in the program at 39 campuses in 19 districts.
Many districts that have implemented the program at one or more of their campuses have expanded the program to include all or most of their middle schools. Brownsville ISD, for example, now offers the program at nine of its 10 middle schools, serving more than 300 students annually.
Program Expansion
Brandenburg said the emphasis on foreign language as a core academic subject and the accountability focus on Limited English Proficient students in the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 should make the program especially appealing to schools and districts.
"It is so encouraging to find a program that is successfully reaching a segment of our student population that has been traditionally underserved," she said.
Brandenburg also noted that the program is designed to work in diverse school settings as evidenced by the range of districts currently offering the program--from metropolitan to rural--serving a wide variety of student populations.
TEA wants to expand the program to include more campuses. In 2004, statewide training programs for teachers of Advanced Academics and Languages Other Than English were held at all 20 of the regional education service centers. In addition, program implementation guides and other program resources are being distributed to every district in the state.
For more information on the Texas Advanced Placement Spanish Language Middle School Program, including a complete list of participating districts, visit the program Web site at www.teamiddleschoolspanish.org. A program implementation guide and sample resources are downloadable from the site.
Interested persons can also contact their regional service center or Brandenburg at 512-463-9439. Questions relating to program content can be directed to María Treviño, TEA's director of Languages Other Than English, at 512-936-9288.
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