About AP with WE Service
AP with WE Service helps students strengthen their understanding of AP course content and skills by applying what they’ve learned to a service-learning project. The program is free and open to all authorized AP teachers and their students. It’s delivered in collaboration with educational partner WE Charity, which provides experiential service-learning programs designed to create social change.
Students who complete a project and take the AP Exam for their course earn special recognition on their AP score report. It’s the only service-learning designation of its kind in the United States.
What Is Service Learning?
Service learning goes beyond test scores and lets students demonstrate their skills and passions through meaningful community service and reflection. It provides a structured academic foundation that helps students better understand local and global issues while taking actions that make a difference.
How to Implement AP with WE Service in the Classroom
College Board provides AP teachers with the structure, guidance, and resources necessary to integrate service-learning into their courses.
Here are the steps for implementing AP with WE Service in your classroom:
- Confirm your participation by completing the participation form. Within two weeks, we’ll process your form and contact you via email with next steps.
- Designate your class as an AP With WE Service course in the AP Digital Portfolio. Follow the steps in your introductory email to complete this process.
- Review the implementation resources, which include teaching modules, pacing guides, and more. These resources will help you plan your school year.
- Support students in designing and completing service projects that address both global and local issues.
- Score the service projects in the AP Digital Portfolio by June 30 using the recognition rubric and ensure students take the AP Exam.
Your participation will automatically renew each school year, as long as you successfully submitted student scores the previous year.
How Students Earn the AP with WE Service Recognition
Students will earn an AP with WE Service designation—the only nationally recognized service-learning designation—by completing a service project that fulfills the recognition requirements and taking the AP Exam for their course.
There isn’t an exam score or service-hour requirement to earn this designation, but students must take the exam for their course and complete the project within the same academic year.
Eligible students will receive an email from the AP Program in late July with a link to their digital certificate and instructions for viewing the AP with WE Service designation on their AP score report.
Student Project Examples
Examples of service-learning projects completed by students include:
- Creating an app that helps people who suffer from anxiety and panic attacks (AP Computer Science A)
- Building a fuel cell to provide electrical energy to areas affected by natural disasters (AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism)
- Surveying the community to help local nonprofits combat homelessness (AP Statistics)
FAQ
Do I need to submit an updated AP Course Audit form to participate in AP with WE Service?
No, you do not need to submit an updated AP Course Audit form to participate, as AP with WE Service is designed to enhance regular AP courses.
How many instructional hours are required in AP with WE Service?
Although we do recommend at least 20 instructional hours to ensure students get a full experience, there are no minimum hour requirements for an AP with WE Service project. Students should focus on the quality of their service project, not on the time spent doing it.
Is there an AP with WE Service group size requirement?
We recommend four to six students per group, but projects can be completed as a class or individually. Teachers can determine what’s best for their classroom and their students.