Do AP Incentive Programs Skew The Challenge Index? Yes, Says Benton

Dallas Morning News education columnist Josh Benton isn’t the first to raise questions about Newsweek’s High School Challenge Index (aka “Uncle Jay’s List’), but the fact that two local Dallas high schools -- both in the same building -- got ranked #1 and #2 this year does give him an interesting perspective. In his column (here), Benton points out that at least some of the Dallas success is due to a local incentive program that pays kids and teachers for AP participation. In fact, Texas was the home of these AP incentive programs, which spread nationally and are now funded federally thanks in large part to my old boss, Jeff Bingaman, and Kay Bailey Hutchison.