Every student can learn when they are held to high expectations and receive rigorous instruction and support. In order to prepare students for life after high school, whether they go on to college or begin their careers, they must have access to a rigorous curriculum in the classroom that prepares them for the real world. One important pathway to reach this goal is access to Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Research shows that taking just one AP course in high school can increase college success for students because of exposure to a college-level curriculum. Access to these courses that hold students to high standards and increase rigor in the classroom must be available to all students in Alabama who wish to take them.