uses Python ( IMHO a better first programming language for high school students) starts this month University of Toronto from a reviewer: "This is a sequel to the other Learn to Program course, and like that one, it is excellent for learning Python"

Hopefully some lawyer home-schooling his/her children will sue the state. I assume y'all pay school taxes.

You are not alone: http://tucson.com/news/local/education/college/free-textbook-use-growing-at-u-of-arizona-pima-college/article_030e107c-2ad3-5dd5-84c8-b5d546296516.html

:lol:

Certification or not had nothing to do with that outcome. Certification does not mean subject competency. Actually I feel sorry for the teacher because currently AP Physics 1 has a reputation as a hard exam considering it is Algebra based Physics. The teachers who are really into getting it right AP-wise might have 3 labs a week because that is the key focus. They even give you all the needed formulas on a reference sheet. If your student learned something then don't worry about the AP score (never report it).

I agree in this situation a regular full HS Physics class (such as NYS Regents Physics) would have been a better choice for the school.

lower scores on the way!

This is more common than you would think. Local high schools here offer these through the CC but the instructor (teacher) has to be qualified by the CC or they can't offer the class. So when Mrs Jones retires, English 101 might go with her. The students get CC transcripts.

read the first part of this http://www.acces.nysed.gov/hse/college-credit-and-out-state-testing Does not appear to be tied to a particular college. It is a NYS program. There are some strings attached before age 19. Might be worth asking someone about it (even ask HVCC folks).

Does your NY CC have: http://www.hvcc.edu/catalog/admissions/24hrprogram.html (I have relatives close to this CC)

There are a fair amount MOOCs that could help with this and the Great Courses which are relatively cheap. The biggest issue is a self discipline - your student will need that to be successful in these type classes. Rolling your own course is difficult for most folks.

What are your student's long term goals? Major, career, etc That should drive everything.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/itt-techs-closure-one-largest-154806610.html

Awesome - this is the kind of success story I like to hear about!

Since edX is only the web delivery platform, each course will be different content and style. The delivery is very similar but the college, not edX, creates the problem sets. I have participated in 3 courses so far. Only one had not so great problem sets and incomprehensible scoring. You will see typos. Check ratings for the particular course. General questions on edX, Coursera and the like don't have much value. Your student will either like the platform or not. Specific course questions are preferred such "Has anybody used edX CS50?"

AP is in Canada: https://apcanada.collegeboard.org/ example colleges: http://international.collegeboard.org/programs/ap-recognition/canada/carleton-university http://international.collegeboard.org/programs/ap-recognition/canada/university-toronto

For the most part I don't think we are really discussing the truly-gifted in this topic - I think we are discussing opportunities for the top 20% of high school students.

teaching or coaching your own children in general is harder than teaching/coaching other children

ok - we can let them teach the basic HS Physics class and maybe AP Physics 1 & 2 (which would satisfy the needs of most high schools)

So a recently retired Engineer who only took "University Physics" is not capable of teaching AP Physics C?? (assuming that Engineer recently "re-learned" all the Physics material) I doubt most current AP Physics C instructors have Physics degrees.

I agree they don't have to be Physics majors. If they understand "University Physics" (typically a 3 course sequence) then they have enough knowledge for HS Physics.

A pet peeve of mine with public high schools is that an otherwise qualified person (such as an early retired Engineer) must take a boat load of education crap courses. Education certification for Elementary teachers is important but not for upper level HS science and math courses. They should take a subject knowledge test instead. They can demonstrate ability to teach in a classroom with a live or video demo. Give me the retired Engineer over the recycled Gym teacher (with certification) any day (true story currently in a local HS for Precalculus).

IMHO - most science and math tests are a reasonable evaluation of subject mastery. I do think the new AP Physics 1 and 2 exams are still a "work in progress" and probably have too much "trickery" like some of the common-core type tests. It's hard for me to evaluate them because they don't release the multiple choice questions. The AP History exams also seem to be pretty reasonable. I doubt a "C" in a UC Scout AP course would get you any positive points towards attending the higher rated UC schools.

A 3 is equivalent to a college "C" so that is a fairly reasonable requirement.

Why would taxpayer subsidized DE Calculus 1 from a college (for an example) be preferable to AP Calculus AB in the high school? You're arguments seem to be based on the current funding situation in your state. ============================================ 1) AP Calculus AB plusses a) topics are mostly standardized across the country - choose from many text books b) covered over 30 weeks versus 15 in a college setting (easier pacing) c) available in the school or online without extra travel by the student d) cost to provide the class is reasonable AP Calculus AB minuses a) instructor may not be fully capable of teaching the material - in this case online option is preferred ========================================== 2) DE Calculus 1 at local community college (probably what the state may be willing to fund) plusses a) instructor most likely will have advanced degree in Math or similar minuses a) may have to transport student to campus if online option not available which could be disruptive to other classes that the student takes b) some community colleges are just not very good and course might be weaker versus the AP c) cost per student to the taxpayer to provide the class is more likely to be more than AP (based on average CC costs)