Advanced Placement: Tailoring Advanced Coursework for Students with High Potential and High Ability

In many high schools, gifted and talented students receive services in Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Although these college-level classes provide above grade-level content and students can earn credit to accelerate their postsecondary education, some students with high potential and ability need additional challenge to continue developing their talents in AP courses. In this chapter, we review the literature on AP classes through the lens of talent development theory, explore practical ways to adapt AP classes to meet the needs of advanced learners, and provide action steps educators can take to tailor AP courses for students with potential and talent. AP teachers can support talent development by individualizing instruction, embedding creative process skills, using flexible readiness grouping, and including psychosocial skills coaching.