What are ways to encourage minority students and those from low socioeconomic backgrounds to take and succeed in AP classes? Advanced Placement courses and their final national standardized exams began in 1954 to help students, mostly white males, get through college more quickly so that they would have more time in the work force. 50 years later, these courses and subsequent test results are being used to gain entrance into college. One research study found that high school seniors who took no AP courses, graduated from college at a rate of only 33% by age 30. Other studies have found that just being in an AP class without taking the exam and/or not passing with a 3 or higher, do not have the same benefits as passing the exam. By passing the exam, the chances of completing college and receiving a degree are greatly increased. Currently, there is a push to offer more AP courses and encourage more minority students and those from low socioeconomic backgrounds to take them. This paper lists issues surrounding offering more courses, as well as things being done to encourage and support more student enrollment in AP courses. (Contains 25 online resources.)