The school district needs to raise academic expectations, the school superintendent said.
LUDLOW - At the urging of Ludlow High School Principal Lisa Nemeth and Interim School Superintendent Kenneth J. Grew, the School Committee has voted to apply to join the Massachusetts Math Science Initiative to increase student participation on Advanced Placement exams and increase passing scores.
Massachusetts was one of six states selected by the National Math and Science Initiative to receive a privately funded grant to expand student participation in taking Advanced Placement exams and increase passing scores.
Applications now are being accepted for schools to participate for the 2011-2012 school year.
Grew told the School Committee Tuesday that the school district by applying to join the initiative has the chance “to raise academic expectations.”
Other districts have seen dramatic improvements in the number of students taking advanced placement tests and receiving passing scores, Grew said.
He added, “That can happen here if we set the expectation.”
School Committee Chairman Michael J. Kelliher said, “We as a district are lagging. We need to increase our participation and scoring.”
Grew said the top 20 percent of students should be encouraged to take advanced placement courses.
Advanced placement courses are offered in high schools, and if a passing grade of 3 is received on a test, college credit for the course is given at some colleges.
If Ludlow joins communities receiving the grant to improve participation on advanced placement courses, there will be money available for teacher training and for Saturday tutoring sessions for students.
The grant can also be used to pay half the cost of the $86 AP exam which helps to make the exam affordable to students.
If Ludlow students get passing grades on the exam, they can compare themselves to students across the state, Grew said.
School Committee member Jacob R. Oliveira said that students who get a passing grade on just one advanced placement course have a higher chance of success once they get to college.
“It would be irresponsible not to pursue this grant,” School Committee member James P. “Chip” Harrington said.