Advanced Placement (AP) Incentive Program Funds Available

INFORMATIONAL LETTER: 57
POLICY CODE: ICHD

TO: Superintendents, Curriculum Coordinators, High School Principals, Headmasters, Guidance Counselors, AP Coordinators, and AP teachers

FROM: Susan A Gendron, Commissioner of Education

DATE: November 27, 2007

RE: Advanced Placement (AP) Incentive Program Funds Available

I am pleased to announce that we have successfully competed for our 8th year of grant funds from the U.S. Department of Education to support student access and success in rigorous courses offered through the Advanced Placement Incentive Program. The purposes of the grant continue to be to increase the participation and success of low-income students in Advanced Placement (AP) courses and to expand offerings of AP courses for students in schools of high need.

“AP Potential” is consistent with my vision for recruiting and preparing students for challenging courses that are proven to add value to student success in post secondary education. Since the year 2000 over 70 high schools and 700 teachers have participated in professional development, coaching, mentoring, and networking and access to online courses and support that have yielded excellent results for teachers and students. This is an example of what can happen when we provide broader and equitable access to learning opportunities for all students with college readiness in grades 6-11 and through AP courses. All AP and non AP teachers, (as all are preparing students for AP) coordinators, administrators, and guidance counselors can continue to have access to professional development because of this grant. In addition, we recognize the need to support students whose native language is not English with additional resources that are available through these funds.

The new grant application is attached. Please be advised that the application is a new application and reflects new requirements. All incomplete applications will be returned!

Funds are available for professional development, materials to enhance AP instruction, test preparation materials, AP preparation, and new course development. All of these activities are intended to support the increased participation of low-income students in AP experiences in schools with 40% or more low-income students.

Funds are available to School Administrative Units that can document that the students in the unit or in the K-8 feeder schools meet the 40% or more low-income criteria. However, all activities and workshops will be open to all schools at cost. In addition, to be eligible to receive funds, low-income students must make up at least 20% of enrollment in a new AP course and at least 30% of an existing AP course. All activities related to classes planned for 2008-2009 for which funds are requested are required to have 30% of the enrollment in a new AP class meet the income criteria.

Program Participation Requirements

Once an application has been approved the following will be required:

All AP courses must have open access enrollment for all students.
All approved applicants are required to use “AP Potential” and must submit evidence of having used the program data and the strategies used to recruit students, particularly low income students, to enroll in AP courses.
AP contact persons must attend three meetings per year and provide data as requested to meet State and federal reporting requirements.
Schools must participate in at least two other APIP components (such as the mentoring program or the professional learning communities), and at least two professional development activities.
Supplemental support to students, particularly low income students, must be provided during the school year and/or summer.

Reporting Requirements

PRIOR TO RECEIVING PAYMENT FOR FINAL INVOICE, all schools/school administrative units that receive funding from this grant program will be required to submit an end-of-project report within 30 days of the ending date of the grant, but no later than the dates given in the following paragraph. The end-of-project report will summarize the impact of the activities on the target population, indicate whether or not APIP Program Goals and Objectives were met, evaluate the activity/materials, and describe project plans by the school(s) to sustain the work.

Funds will be available, through the AP Test Fee Reduction Grant, to provide for the full cost (after the College Board reduction and the waiver of the high school’s administrative portion) of the AP exams for low-income students if the school administrative unit does not currently provide for the costs for students. These costs will be paid directly to the College Board based on the students identified by the school for the College Board fee reduction. Additional information will be forthcoming.

Thank you for your efforts to seek out these underachieving low-income students and for providing them with an opportunity to participate in a challenging AP program. Students who participate in rigorous courses are known to complete college at a higher rate than those who have not participated in AP classes.

If you have any questions, please contact Nancy Lamontagne at 624-6822 or by email at nancy.a.lamontagne@maine.gov or Susan Johnson at 624-6627 or by email at susan.johnson@maine.gov .

Enclosure:

Advanced Placement Incentive Program Application