A Note from Trevor Packer, Senior Vice President, AP® and College Readiness

Feb. 2012

Programs and Services

Trevor Packer

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

February will be a very special month for all of us in the AP® department.

First and foremost, we will be releasing The 8th Annual AP Report to the Nation, and we will once again show growth in the number of students taking the exams and progress in the number of students succeeding on the exams.

College success is rarely the result of just one element, but AP is a key ingredient. Successful AP students develop the content knowledge, skills and habits of mind that result in higher first- and fourth-year college GPAs; higher performance in intermediate-level college courses; higher likelihood of majoring in the particular subject in which they participated in AP, especially among STEM subjects; and higher four-year bachelor’s degree attainment rates.

The engaging, hands-on learning that takes place in AP courses also requires students to think critically, construct solid arguments and see many sides of an issue — skills that prepare students for college and beyond.

But February is also special for another reason. This will be Gaston Caperton’s 13th and final year at the College Board, and this will be his last AP Report to the Nation. During his presidency, Gaston has been instrumental in building the AP Program into one of the highest standards of academic rigor across the world, and he leaves us in much better shape than we were when he found us.

Since Gaston took over in 1999, the number of low-income students taking AP courses has tripled, the total number of students succeeding on AP Exams has doubled and the number of course offerings has grown by five.

Years ago, AP was seen as an exclusive program designed for only a small number of students. But by offering opportunities for additional students to succeed — by challenging more students to meet higher expectations — the program has become a great equalizer to help students from all backgrounds pursue a college degree. When thinking about this important shift, Gaston always gives credit to the expertise and dedication of the AP educators who make these opportunities for students possible.

However, it should be noted that Gaston’s accomplishments are not limited to AP.

One of his top priorities was to grow the capacity of the organization to serve more constituents — by attracting talented personnel and expanding the organization’s capability to improve its programs and services. This past year, we served seven million students and their families, up from three million in 1999.

Gaston also oversaw the creation of the Advocacy & Policy Center. In 2010, the College Board was able to open a center dedicated to helping students from all backgrounds get the opportunity to succeed in college. The Center supports the work of educators and policymakers through its research and advocacy.

Last but certainly not least, Gaston added writing to the SAT®. Writing is a critical skill for success in the 21st-century global economy. Adding writing to the SAT — the only college admission exam to require writing — has helped make writing a higher priority in high schools across the country.

Gaston’s tenure will be remembered as one of great progress and accomplishment. From AP to the SAT to the Advocacy & Policy Center, he has left his mark. So this month, as we review the AP Report to the Nation and build on its research to further its goals, let’s remember that there would be no report at all without Gaston.

Sincerely,

Trevor