7 Inspiring Ideas to Support and Grow AP African American Studies

“When you empower students to take ownership of their learning, as administrators, you’re empowering teachers to take ownership of their teaching as well,” observed Valentino Ellis, district social studies lead for the New York City Department of Education.

Ellis served as one of seven panelists during a session at the 2025 A Dream Deferred™ and HBCU conferences where educators looking to add AP® African American Studies or grow their Advanced Placement® program got a treasure trove of ideas. 

During the livestreamed session, Empowering Students: Collaborative Expansion of AP African American Studies, attendees heard from teachers and administrators about implementation strategies that helped expand their respective programs. 

AP African American Studies is producing impressive results. For some students, the subject matter may be sparking curiosity with data showing that AP African American Studies is a first AP class for 29% of its students, according to Moderator Greg Walker, senior vice president of state and district partnerships at College Board. Additionally, more than 80% of AP African American Studies students go on to take another AP course, signaling the course is becoming a catalyst for further advanced learning.

These powerful statistics may have educators and leaders looking for ways to bring this course to their own school or district. Here are some innovative takeaways to consider.

Provide Access

A districtwide Google Drive offers teachers in Clark County School District in southern Nevada a place to share ideas. Kenya Jackson, district coordinator, says their AP African American Studies teachers represent diverse disciplines, including English, social studies, and computer science principles, and this central repository serves as a shared learning hub. 

Offer Intervisitation Hours

This collaborative mechanism allows teachers to visit fellow AP African American Studies teachers, both in their building and around their district, to observe them in action. Teachers in New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) can participate in this opportunity on a bimonthly basis.

Empower Students as Curriculum Leaders

Brooklyn Prep in Brooklyn, N.Y., encourages students to undertake a process to teach alongside the teacher. Curriculum leader students develop lesson plans, activities, and assessments with the teacher. This helps give the program student voice, and students become part of the recruitment process and strategy.

Tap into Your Community

Local museums, private collections, and art and music centers can be rich resources for helping students understand the unique and special nature of African American history. Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) students take advantage of locations like The Kinsey African American Art & History Collection, California African American Museum, and the GRAMMY Museum to enhance the student learning experience. 

Dr. Mark Jones, Black Student Achievement Plan regional administrative coordinator with LAUSD, explained, “For our African American students, students of color, and any student who comes to this class, we want to cultivate the genius in that student. How can we curate our instruction to meet the needs of these geniuses in front of us versus an experience that leaves them frustrated or bored?” 

Celebrate the Work

How about giving flowers to your AP African American Studies teachers? That’s how NYCPS honored its first-year pilot teachers. They also recognized their students by showcasing their projects through stage and gallery presentations. 

Elevate Student Voices

To ensure sharing of student perspectives, NYCPS held an event moderated by a student from the first-year pilot class featuring a panel of second-year pilot students to help promote the course to their peers.

Creatively Partner with Higher Education

LAUSD originated a partnership with UCLA called AP Readiness, according to Ana Beltran, district coordinator for advanced learning options. This program provides mentorship for teachers and readiness for students who visit the campus on weekends to get help with AP courses. Teachers in select STEM and humanities courses get high-level professional development that includes opportunities to interact with master teachers.

Be (Really) Social

To inspire expansion, teachers must often be their own best promoter. “I am my own personal marketing team,” reports Chrishan David of Chicago Public Schools (CPS). She has an Instagram dedicated to the class @APAfro_Brooks where she features student voices and work. (Be sure to check out the energizing line dance party post!)

Her colleague, Keanon Thompson, CPS program support specialist, noted, “The course is not designed in order for the teacher to be the sage on the stage, but rather be the guide on the side.”