High schools will label any course “AP” even if it bears no resemblance to the College Board’s AP course/exam requirements. It has gotten so bad that the College Board recently began an audit process:
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/courses/teachers_corner/46361.html
“In November 2007, the College Board will publish on the Web a ledger for colleges, universities, and the public that lists the courses authorized to use the “AP” designation at each school.”
Very true - but the AP course itself is worthless to the college unless the student takes and scores a certain mark on the exam. The colleges are uninterested in the class - they are quite interested in the score. My daughter’s 5 in World History will give her credit for Hist 101 and allow her to skip Hist 102 and take another elective. But then, her US History (assuming she gets a 5) will give her credit for the 102 and leave her with no history requirements for college. She can then take those 6 hours that are freed up and use it to swing a double major. It’ll be interesting to see her scores in July, and then the planning begins
Anyone who chooses to pay for the AP exam may take it, not just those enrolled in the classes. The intent of the class is to prepare students for the AP exam that may provide varying degrees of college credit.
iHigh schools will label any course “AP” even if it bears no resemblance to the College Board’s AP course/exam requirements.
Importantly, the AP exams are written and scored by the college board (the AP people), so it is folly to name a course AP in hopes of kids earning AP credit. That doesn't happen. The only way AP credit may be earned is by achieving a particular score on AP's exam which is graded by AP. Schools can't willy nilly provide AP credit.