Impact of AP Seminar on ELA Assessment Performance

This technical report examines the relationship between enrollment in AP Seminar as an English 10 course and student performance on state English Language Arts (ELA) assessments across Kentucky, New York, and Texas. The study analyzes data from approximately 70,000 students, comparing outcomes for those enrolled in AP Seminar with those in Advanced/Honors and On-Level English 10 courses. The findings indicate that students in AP Seminar demonstrate reading performance comparable to Advanced/Honors English 10 and superior to On-Level English 10, with variations based on prior academic achievement. Additionally, AP Seminar students show higher writing performance than both comparison groups in Kentucky. Descriptive analyses from New York and Texas support these findings, revealing that AP Seminar students meet or exceed state benchmarks at rates comparable to or higher than their peers in other English 10 courses. The report suggests that districts can enhance access to rigorous coursework without negatively impacting accountability outcomes.