Explore our most frequently asked questions on the AP Access for ALL program and supports for districts, teachers, and students.
Program Elements
AP Access for ALL is a partnership between TDOE and Niswonger Foundation to offer virtual AP courses to students across the state. Niswonger has offered online AP courses since 2010 to districts in the first CORE region and since 2015 to districts across the state. AP Access for ALL will include professional development opportunities for current and new AP teachers.
All students, grades 9-12, in a public Tennessee high school that has partnered with the AP Access program are eligible. Talk to your high school counselor for more information.
AP Access for ALL will deliver instruction through a learning management system, Canvas.
AP Access for ALL will allow for either block or traditional scheduling of courses.
The courses will be asynchronous.
High schools will have the flexibility to create a schedule for virtual AP courses that works with their master schedule and their students’ schedules. Currently, some districts allow students to work on their virtual AP coursework during a study hall or a monitored period in the library. Additionally, some districts allow students to complete their AP coursework outside of the school day.
Credits may be brought in as transfer credits at the end of the year, however, it is recommended that instead, schools use the developed course codes.
Yes—AP Access for ALL students will have to sit for the AP exam.
No- only students who take the Online Niswonger AP courses will have their AP exam fees paid for through the partnership with the State department and Niswonger Foundation.
High schools will be able to select students using local policies already in place. Niswonger Foundation will have regional staff in place to support equitable access to AP courses. Niswonger regional staff will partner with local staff and the department to identify AP ready students using longitudinal assessment data from SAS, teacher recommendations, and/or student interest.
Currently, the plan is for the 2022 exams to return to traditional paper and pencil administrations. College Board will evaluate the ongoing digital administration and feedback from districts to reassess once this administration is complete.
Reports will be sent out monthly to review the status of the students. They also have the ability to review the status of students at any time through the GeniusSIS system.
District Supports
The foundation will have regional staff in each CORE region (Regional Relationship Specialists) to offer daily support to districts and schools ranging from equitable recruiting practices to AP exam administration. The foundation will also pay a stipend to a school-based official (AP Liaison) who will serve as the main point of contact between the district or school and the regional staff member. Niswonger will also employ a technology coordinator to assist with technology related issues on a daily basis.
Final grades will be made available to schools in a timely manner and align with their marking periods. The Niswonger Online student information system will give raw scores for all AP courses. Additional AP points will be awarded by the school based on state and local policy. Districts treat the credit as a transfer credit when recording.
All school systems new to Niswonger Online will go through an on-boarding process that will include a meeting with your local technology director. Within this meeting we will discuss internet needs, white-listing of IP addresses, troubleshoot and test the platform on your network, and answer any questions your team may have. The Niswonger Online Canvas platform is very intuitive and courses work well with all devices including laptops, Chromebooks, iPads, and even cell phones.
Teacher Supports
- College Board Training – Teachers will have the opportunity to receive virtual or face-to-face College Board training in the summer of 2023. This training will be provided for teachers who are new to teaching AP and for teachers who are already teaching AP but would like to refresh in their subject area.
- Niswonger Online Teacher Training – Teachers who are currently College Board trained or receive College Board training during the summer can apply to be a Niswonger Online AP teacher. Once hired and given a course, the teacher will be trained by the Niswonger Foundation in online pedagogy and teacher expectations, CanvasLMS, GeniusSIS, and all aspects of teaching in a virtual classroom.
Any teacher within the state of Tennessee with a valid TN teaching license. The teacher should also hold a secondary endorsement in the AP subject area. Selection will be based on these prerequisites as well as district and school needs, student demand for AP Access for ALL courses, and available spots with College Board.
- Classroom teachers will receive support through College Board training and monthly AP Cohort meetings.
- Niswonger Online AP teachers will receive support through Niswonger Online training, Niswonger Online staff, monthly AP Cohort meetings, and a Technology Support team.
Student Supports
Online AP students will be supported through their online AP teacher, local high school AP Liaison, Regional Relationship Specialist, Niswonger Online Technology Support Team, and the administrators of the AP Access for ALL grant and the Niswonger Online program.
