APEX Learning Exam Preparation

INFORMATIONAL LETTER: 52
POLICY CODE: IHCD

TO: Superintendents, Advanced Placement Coordinators, High School Principals, and High School Guidance Directors

FROM: Susan A. Gendron, Commissioner of Education

DATE: November 15, 2007

SUBJECT: APEX Learning Exam Preparation

I am happy to announce a new opportunity for Advanced Placement (AP) students to prepare for the AP exam in schools participating in the Advanced Placement Incentive Program (APIP). The Maine Department of Education has entered into an agreement with APEX Learning to provide an online test preparation program for the following AP exams:

Math	AP Calculus AB AP Statistics
Science	AP Biology AP Chemistry AP Physics B AP Psychology
English	AP English Language and Composition AP English Literature and Composition
Social Studies	AP Macroeconomics AP Microeconomics AP U.S. Government and Politics AP U.S. History
World Languages	AP French Language and Composition AP Spanish Language and Composition

ALL STUDENTS USING APEX LEARNING TEST PREP MUST TAKE THE AP EXAM.

Funding for this effort is from the U.S. Department of Education through the Advanced Placement Incentive Program Grant; the test prep is available to students in APIP eligible schools where 40% or more of the students qualify for free or reduced lunch, Medicare, or social security benefits. In order to register students for the test prep program, the school must meet certain criteria. These criteria are listed below.

The Maine Department of Education has also negotiated a special 50% discount on the $25.00/subject price to $12.00/subject/per student for Apex Exam Review for all other non-qualifying school administrative units. These units will pay the cost of the exam review directly to APEX Learning if they choose to participate.

APEX Learning will be contacting eligible schools directly to offer the opportunity to access their online test prep services at no cost. If you have not been contacted and/or need more information regarding this online prep course, you can contact Donna Bland at APEX Learning at donnab@apexlearning.com or 866-416-9820. Please visit the APEX Learning webpage for more information at http://apexlearning.com/Demos/demo.htm .

Criteria

Schools must have open access to all Advanced Placement courses.
Each Advanced Placement course must have low-income students enrolled to have access to APEX.
Schools must be participating in at least two other APIP components such as the mentoring program, professional learning communities, at least two professional development activities, etc.

For questions in determining school eligibility, please contact Nancy Lamontagne at 624-6822 or nancy.a.lamontagne@maine.gov .

I encourage you to extend this opportunity to your students.