Supporting and improving a program that offers challenging content to students seeking demanding classes was the agenda focus at a recent statewide summit.
A small contingent from Thomas County Central High School took part in the second annual Advanced Placement Legislative Day held Thursday, Jan. 25 at the Georgia State Capitol. Delegates were students Celia “C’lee” Kornegay, Hailey Ferrel, Bret Hendricks and Joshua Stephens along with AP teacher Amy Ponder and assistant principal James Rehberg, who coordinates the TCCHS AP program.
“It presented an occasion for our students to experience firsthand our government and policy making as it affects them,” James Rehberg said. “This was a great opportunity for our students, potentially the future leaders of our state or in their chosen fields, to see the General Assembly at work on the floor of the House and Senate, to speak with our elected decision makers, and express their opinions based on their personal experiences in public education.”
The goals at AP Legislative Day included celebrating the state’s support for AP STEM fee waivers and asking for non-STEM fee waivers for low income students in the current budget.
“The goal of AP Legislative Day was to encourage our district's representatives to advocate for the betterment of the AP program,” TCCHS AP student Hailey Ferrel, who is taking five AP courses this year, says. “The purpose that interested me the most was asking for non-STEM fee waivers for low income students because as a student who is planning on taking five AP exams this year, the equivalent of five full-priced AP exams is nearly as much as my enrollment deposit for college. This should not be a problem. Students should not have to pay for the best classes; they should be encouraged to take them.”
The day included presentations by representatives from a variety of educational services and organizations such as the College Board, the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement and the state board of education. TCCHS delegates had the chance to meet local legislators and hear AP Day resolution announcements by the Georgia Senate and House. Talking points covered topics such as the importance of hard work in AP courses and why earning college credit while in high school matters.
Rehberg felt it important for local representatives to hear these students’ stories about how AP has and will continue to positively impact their lives.
Student attendee Bret Hendricks currently takes five AP courses and has more in his academic cap.
“I chose to take AP courses to challenge myself intellectually while also potentially earning college credit,” he said. “I enjoy AP courses because they are challenging; it's definitely not the easy way out. I feel like I actually learn the material in my AP courses.”
Ferrel participates in AP courses because of their college level rigor and the challenge each class presents.
“I feel more prepared for college because of them,” she said.
TCCHS AP student C’lee Kornegay, who will have taken every available AP science course by year’s end, says the day has made her even more passionate about AP courses. Her favorite part of the event was listening to presenters discuss the benefits of taking AP courses. She appreciates how, no matter what part of the state students who attended were from, the speakers were able to connect everyone through the event’s common goal: to support the AP program.
Kornegay’s biggest interest was asking for non-STEM fee waivers.
“The main reason we attended AP Legislative Day was to talk to people about getting AP exams at a reduced cost,” she said. “Currently, dual enrollment classes are free, guaranteed college credits, but in order to get the college credit for an AP course, you have to pay almost $100 for a test, and you have to pass the test. This cost turns a lot of people away from AP courses. However, dual enrollment classes give students credit for free as long as they pass the class. In order to get more people involved in AP classes, I believe the tests should come at a lower cost.”
TCCHS sophomore Joshua Stephens, who plans to take AP courses, attended in order to advocate for the effectiveness of the AP program and learn more about AP’s educational benefits.
“AP Legislative Day gave me insight on the rigor and importance of Advanced Placement,” he said. “My favorite part of the experience was speaking to legislators and hearing from important people in the Georgia Department of Education. I was able to talk to other students and share thoughts about the AP program. I contributed to the day’s purpose by speaking with the other students and participating [in] meetings with Sen. Dean Burke and Rep. Darlene Taylor. These could aid my future studies by possible funding for AP courses that I am interested in taking. Funding for AP courses could act as an incentive, causing more students to consider AP as an option.”
Rehberg is proud of TCCHS’ small but dedicated group of students who attended the event and shared their experiences within the Thomas County Schools AP program. TCCHS was the only school from southwest Georgia in attendance, he continues, and several people commented on the rarity of visitors from this part of the state.
“That demonstrates our commitment to rigorous education and helping students by providing opportunities to demonstrate through rigorous course work they can compete with students from all over the state, nation and world,” Rehberg said. “I feel like it's important to remind decision-makers about our opinions and what works for South Georgia as opposed to what's just good for Atlanta. All in all, it was a great learning experience for everyone who went.”