Written by Lizette Fontane

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his year, the San Diego Unified School District and Mossy Automotive Group have worked together to provide our high school students incentive to take more Advanced Placement (A.P.) classes.  During the last week of school this June, two free cars will be given away to two lucky students who were enrolled in at least four A.P. courses throughout their high school career.   Students will only have to pay the taxes and license fees.  Decision making on how students will win the car has not been finalized yet. One possible way the two cars will be awarded is by giving all eligible students who attend the car-award ceremony a key to a car, and then one student’s key will fit into one of the cars.

The Cool to be Smart program was developed to support public education and encourage students to participate in more A.P. classes.  In the fall of 2009, School Board President, Shelia Jackson’s State of the District Address, launched the A.P. incentive program.  Mossy Automotive stepped up to participate with the Cool to be Smart program when Mr. Terry Grier, the former superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District, asked them for support.

Grier originally developed a similar program in North Carolina and brought it down to San Diego to continue the incentive for high school students. Grier stated, “In Greensboro, North Carolina, where the top prize each year in their Cool To Be Smart program was a new car, student participation in these advanced courses rose by 149% in the past five years. Minority student participation in advanced courses increased 183%.”

Alyson Evans, Program Development Specialist for the San Diego Unified School District, who formalized the details of the car give away, says that she believes, “… students who have been ‘on the fence’ about taking A.P. courses may think more about actually taking them if they know they could win one of two cars just by doing so."  Therefore, the reason the criteria requires at least four A.P. classes is because they want our students to set high expectations and encourage them to succeed with such difficult standards.

Along with the A.P. incentive team, they want to inspire all students to put forth their best efforts to enroll in more A.P. classes.

Since this program plans to continue their efforts even after this school year, they want students of all grades to learn about this opportunity so even if they did not take an A.P. course this year, they will be motivated about taking A.P. courses next year.  Ms. Evans also proposes that parents urge their children to strive for incentive goals that will enable their chances for this grand opportunity.

Cody Nnamani, a junior from Science and Engineering, says, “Taking A.P. classes is a privilege that will prepare me to better my future and challenge my life instead of taking the easy way out and it allows me to receive college credit.”

The Cool to be Smart program offers the opportunity for students to save money before starting college.  If students take A.P. courses in high school, then when they go to college, they will not need to pay to take the classes that they have already taken.  Don Mitchell, Director of the A.P. Incentive program for the San Diego Unified School District, said, “If you attend USC, it could cost you as much as $5,000 for one class.  If you receive credit or placement at a higher level and do not have to take the class, you can save a lot of money, and/or graduate from college faster.”

If you feel you are up for the challenge, see your counselor to find out what A.P. courses are offered and what you need to do to get enrolled for next year.  It just might be a lucky Lincoln High student who will be driving off in a new 2010 car.

• Cool to be Smart Criteria:

• Completed at least four (4) A.P./I.B. classes, or combination of both during their high school studies and received a grade of C or higher in each class; and completed the AP exam for the four AP classes during high school.

• Enrolled in at least one AP or IB class during their senior year.

• Graduating seniors, in good standing, who will be 18 years of age by December 31, 2010.

• Received a grade of B or higher (both semesters) in all A.P./I.B. classes during their senior year.

• Completed the A.P./I.B. tests and all senior year classes.