Overview

The first book to tell the story of the Advanced Placement program-the gold standard for academic rigor in U.S. high schools and beyond The Advanced Placement program stands as the foremost source of college-level academics for millions of high school students in the United States and beyond. More than 22,000 schools now participate in it, acros

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9780691216911

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Reviews

While ample research has sought to understand the benefits of AP participation and success, Learning in the Fast Lane puts that research into context, situating the program amid other education reform efforts and comparing it to alternatives. This is insightful scholarship.--Martin R. West, Harvard Graduate School of Education This readable, comprehensive account of the Advanced Placement program will surely become the authoritative source for policymakers and practitioners who seek to understand AP's history, its present-day implementation, and its continued promise. Along with illuminating case studies and research reviews, Finn and Scanlan devote much attention to this central question: Can the democratization of opportunity promised by the spread of AP be accomplished without diluting academic rigor? They are clear-eyed about the tradeoffs and complications involved, but reassuringly--and convincingly--optimistic about the potential for excellence and equity to coexist.--Ben Wildavsky, author of The Great Brain Race: How Global Universities Are Reshaping the World The most comprehensive book ever on Advanced Placement, the most powerful educational tool in the country. . . . [Finn and Scanlan] add so much to a subject crucial to the future of high schools.---Jay Mathews, Washington Post Both a history and full-throated defense of the Advanced Placement program.---Jason L. Riley, Wall Street Journal Advanced Placement's transformation from a narrow program for an advantaged few into one that weaves expansive offerings throughout the fabric of American education today warrants a holistic, clear-eyed accounting of its present state and potential for the future. In Learning in the Fast Lane, Finn and Scanlan provide a comprehensive look at AP programs, deftly balancing candor with optimism, and detail with readability.--Nat Malkus, deputy director of education policy at the American Enterprise Institute A fascinating read. . . . Engaging and well researched.---W. S. Miner, Choice Learning in the Fast Lane is exceptionally engaging. It deals with many complex issues, such as the main drivers of AP growth, yet it easily brings its point across with a combination of case studies and analysis.--Jonathan A. Plucker, Johns Hopkins University

Author Information

Chester E. Finn, Jr., is a distinguished senior fellow and president emeritus at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute and a senior fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution. His books include Exam Schools: Inside America's Most Selective Public High Schools (Princeton). Andrew E. Scanlan was formerly a research and policy associate at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute.

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