MONTGOMERY - Twenty additional Alabama high schools have been selected to participate in a statewide initiative to increase the number of students taking Advanced Placement courses, including four high schools in Jefferson County, Gov. Bob Riley announced today.

By Marie Leech -- The Birmingham News
March 10, 2010, 11:30AM

MONTGOMERY - Twenty additional Alabama high schools have been selected to participate in a statewide initiative to increase the number of students taking Advanced Placement courses, including four high schools in Jefferson County, Gov. Bob Riley announced today.

Corner, Erwin, McAdory and Mortimer Jordan high schools are among the 20 receiving grant money to increase the number of students taking AP courses in math, science and English. The funding for the initiative includes $1.3 million this year from the Alabama Legislature, a $13.2 million grant from the National Math and Science Initiative and additional matching money to be raised over the next five years.

"The future of Alabama depends on how well we prepare our next generation of leaders," Riley said. "Expanding Advanced Placement courses is critical to providing a world-class education for our children and making sure they are prepared to succeed."

Riley and state school Superintendent Joe Morton said today they are committed to increasing AP enrollment in math, science and English by 85 percent, from 1,656 to 3,063. Last year, several Birmingham city high schools were added to the initiative, and the year before it included many Jefferson County and Montgomery high schools.