• Preliminary contacts between committee members and ETS were reasonably vague concerning the role of the AP CS Ad Hoc Committee. This role has become somewhat clearer since that time.
• An July 11 letter of appointment indicated that the purpose of the AP CS Ad Hoc Committee was to "define the C++ language to be used in the Advanced Placement Examinations in Computer Science and advise as to the best approach to implementing C++ in the Computer Science Course."
• The AP CS Test Development Committee's charge to the AP CS Ad Hoc Committee (received August 3) focused upon details of the C++ language, such as what langauge features should be part of the AP CS Course Description, what language features should be avoided, and what libraries should be used.
• Participants at the first meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee concluded that a very broad range of topics should be considered, including the discussion items described below.

• The College Board and ETS firmly are committed to changing the langauge of the AP CS Examination to C++. This decision was not open for discussion by the AP CS Ad Hoc Committee.
• As described by the July 11 letter of appointment, the AP CS Ad Hoc Committee is to consider implementation issues only. The Ad Hoc Committee, however, views this directive very broadly.

• Considerable preparation time will be needed before the AP CS examinations can change to C++.
  • Course descriptions and teacher guides must be written, drafts need to be circulated widely for review, and feedback received.
  • Since C++ is a very large language, AP CS will need to define a subset which is appropriate for coverage in AP CS courses. Special attention is needed to include those constructs which will promote good programming methodology. Other topics which can be easily misused by beginners or which can undermine problem-solving principles should be avoided.
  • An AP CS C++ Standard Libary will need to be defined. This AP Library will include appropriate parts of the draft ANSI Standard C++ Template Library. The AP Library also will include class and template definitions which may aid pedagogy or support course principles. (For example, the definition of an array class that checks subscript bounds may be appropriate.)
  • School districts must have time to purchase needed hardware and software.
  • Teachers must have time to learn C++ and to revise their courses.
  • Teacher training workshops must be designed and held.
  All of these considerations led to the strong recommendation to postpone the first offering of AP CS in C++ until May 1999. This recommendation has since been approved by the AP CS Test Development Committee.
• The Committee spent a considerable amount of time considering mechanisms to improve and expand communication between the AP CS Test Development and the CS community. This communication must go both ways: ETS and the AP CS Test Development Committee need to distribute course descriptions et al, while high schools and colleges must be able to provide feedback concerning policies and draft documents.
  • Mechanisms for the circulation of draft documents were discussed.
  • Expanded use of regional and national conferences for dissemination and for feedback was strongly recommended. Such conferences might include the SIGCSE Symposium, NECC, and various regional conferences of the Consortium for Computing in Small Colleges.
  • Suggestions were made for specific sessions at SIGCSE '96.
• A major teacher training effort will be needed before any shift to C++ can occur. Initially, leaders for training sessions should be identified and trained. Then these leaders will need to lead workshops around the country.
• Since a move to C++ may require school districts to acquire new hardware and/or software, such a change has substantial budgetary impact. ETS and AP are strongly encouraged to identify possible sources for grants, particularly in support of needy school districts. For example, manufacturers' programs for low-cost equipment or free software should be identified. and names of contact people should be circulated.

Henry M. Walker