Realizing Equitable Access to Rigorous College-Preparatory Coursework

Higher education in America is at a defining juncture: at a time when federal forces are threatening to regress educational equity progress and efforts, leaders can take the bold path forward and empower students, particularly Latinx, Black, Asian American, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native students who have been historically excluded from higher education, to harness the power of a college degree. Students can only reap the benefits of college if education leaders nationwide implement the supports and resources necessary for students to be prepared for college and competitive in their applications for admission. The Campaign for College Opportunity is, therefore, proud to share this publication, part of our summer Back to School, Forward with Students campaign that is focused on advancing college access for underserved students. 

Authored by Dr. Awilda Rodriguez, Associate Professor at the University of Maryland, this publication focuses on the role of college preparatory coursework—like Advanced Placement (AP), Dual Enrollment (DE), and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses—in ensuring more students reach and succeed in higher education. However, the brief reveals alarming disparities in college-prep coursework: students attending schools with high concentrations of minoritized students face fewer opportunities to take AP, DE, and IB courses—especially in STEM fields like calculus—and are less likely to take them even when they are available due to persistent barriers. These disparities are compounded by shortages of qualified teachers, overburdened counselors, and exclusionary course enrollment requirements.

The publication uplifts solutions for leaders to break down the barriers to advanced courses. This includes ensuring that every high school offers advanced coursework in all core subjects, removing unnecessary prerequisites that deter students from enrolling in these courses, and more. Now is the time to protect college access from regressive forces and courageously advance the strategies that uphold every student’s right to an education that prepares them for college and a lifetime of opportunity.