Advanced Placement Environmental Science and the Curriculum and Community Enterprise for Restoration Science (CCERS) Project in the New York City High School

Abstract

This paper explores the issue of social justice through the lens of equitable access to Advanced Placement courses inthe City of New York High Schools, with focus on Advanced Placement Environmental Science. A criticalcomponent of the Advanced Placement Environmental Science course is the incorporation of environmentalfieldwork. The National Research Council (2014) suggest that field stations are important for STEM education andprovide opportunities to engage students in the natural environment and get them excited about science. Through theCurriculum and Community Enterprise for Restoration Science, an NSF funded opportunity, students in theAdvanced Placement Environmental Science course are integrating their field station work in Oyster Restoration inthe New York City Harbor. These interactions with the environment offer unique experiences which engagemarginalized students in both rigorous coursework and affords equity in science learning. In turn, it affords allstudents the opportunity for upward mobility and increased career opportunities in the area of STEM.