$2 Million Grant To Fund Davidson College AP Instruction Pilot

The Davidson Next Initiative has received $2 million from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation to extend a pilot program to create online instructional materials for some of the most difficult Advance Placement courses.

The initiative, a collaboration that includes Davidson College in Davidson, NC, edX, the College Board, 2Revolutions and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg (NC) School System, is creating instructional units with interactive assignments and video lessons that can be used in conjunction with classroom instruction for courses in calculus, physics and macroeconomics, subjects identified as the most challenging for both students and teachers.

Davidson College faculty members are guiding the development of the content of the instructional units, with help and advice from Charlotte-Mecklenburg district teachers who have taught the classes.

In the first year of the pilot program, four instructional units have been developed and distributed to 28 teachers in 20 high schools in the district. By the end of 2015, there will be 10 more units.

Each unit blends online learning with classroom discussion and practice with exercises and video lessons taught by experienced AP teachers from all over the United States.

"This partnership presents a unique opportunity for our students to access rigorous content in calculus, physics and macroeconomics," said Charlotte-Mecklenburg Deputy Superintendent Ann Clark. "In addition, our high school teachers in these subjects have received incredible professional development."

After the instructional units are tested during the pilot program in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, they will launch on edx.org and be available free of charge to schools everywhere. The goal — and the reason the Laura and John Arnold Foundation made the contribution — is to assure that disadvantaged high school students have the same access to and are just as prepared to pass AP classes as any students.

"We believe that a level educational playing field for students from all backgrounds will go a long way to foster a culture in which individuals have the best chance to succeed and prosper," said Kelli Rhee, director of venture development for the foundation.

About the Author

Michael Hart is a Los Angeles-based freelance writer and the former executive editor of THE Journal.

Featured

  • magnifying glass with AI icon in the center

    Google Intros Learning-Themed AI Mode Features for Search

    Google has announced new AI Mode features in Search, including image and PDF queries on desktop, a Canvas tool for planning, real-time help with Search Live, and Lens integration in Chrome. Features are launching in the U.S. ahead of the school year.

  • student and teacher using AI-enabled laptops, with rising arrows on a graph

    Student and Teacher AI Use Jumps Nearly 30% in One Year

    In a recent survey from learning platform Quizlet, 85% of high school and college students and teachers said they use AI technology, compared to 66% in 2024 — a 29% increase year over year.

  • student reading a book with a brain, a protective hand, a computer monitor showing education icons, gears, and leaves

    4 Steps to Responsible AI Implementation

    Researchers at the University of Kansas Center for Innovation, Design & Digital Learning (CIDDL) have published a new framework for the responsible implementation of artificial intelligence at all levels of education.

  •  laptop on a clean desk with digital padlock icon on the screen

    Study: Data Privacy a Top Concern as Orgs Scale Up AI Agents

    As organizations race to integrate AI agents into their cloud operations and business workflows, they face a crucial reality: while enthusiasm is high, major adoption barriers remain, according to a new Cloudera report. Chief among them is the challenge of safeguarding sensitive data.