DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O.
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 55
December 21, 2007
ADMINISTRATIVE
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Billy K.
Cannaday, Jr. Superintendent
of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
Advanced
Placement Fee Payment Program |
The United States Department of
Education (USED) posted the 2008 Advanced Placement (AP) Test Fee Program grant
opportunity on November 9, 2007. The Virginia Department of Education plans to
submit a proposal to receive funds to reimburse AP/IB test fees for low-income
students. The Department does not currently have federal funding for 2008
reimbursement. It is anticipated that the Department will be notified in the
spring regarding the status of the funding award.
The purpose of this grant is to
increase the participation of low-income students in advanced classes and testing.
While a majority of
Pending availability of funding, the
Virginia Department of Education will pay $54 per AP and/or IB exam for each
exam taken by public and private school students qualifying for the College
Board’s fee reduction or the International Baccalaureate fee reduction.
It is anticipated that AP/IB test fees
will be reimbursed at least at the same amount as last year’s award for each
school division. The Department has requested an increase of funds from the
USED and these funds may be available for divisions with additional fee
reduction tests reported to the College Board and the International
Baccalaureate Organization.
If your division has a program in place
that pays for all AP and IB tests, you are not eligible for this program, as it
would constitute supplanting. Funds provided under this program will only be
used to supplement, and not supplant, other federal, state, local, or private
funds available to assist individuals identified as low-income students in
paying for AP and IB testing.
In order to allocate any funds that may
be awarded to the Department in spring 2008, the Department must collect certain
data that are required by the USED. These data will be collected in an
electronic survey due by February 28, 2008. To complete the electronic survey,
each division must assign a point of contact for the Advanced Placement Fee
Payment Program and grant data entry privileges through the Single Sign-On for
Web Applications. A copy of the survey is attached to help collect the
information required on the electronic survey. The electronic survey is
available at https://p1pe.doe.virginia.gov/ssws/login.page.do, and will open on January
4, 2008.
Once
the electronic data are submitted, please submit a hard copy of the
verification report found with the electronic survey with the school division’s
superintendent’s signature to:
Joseph A. Wharff
School Counseling Specialist
The
signed copy must be on file with the Virginia Department of Education
confirming that the school division will adhere to the assurances listed. School
divisions cannot receive reimbursements if a signed copy of the assurances
(verification report) is not on file with the Department.
For further information, you may
contact Joseph Wharff school counseling specialist, Office of Middle and High
School Instruction, by e-mail at Joseph.Wharff@doe.virginia.gov,
or by telephone at (804) 786-9377.
BKCJr/JAW/ce
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/suptsmemos/2007/adm055a.doc