ADMINISTRATIVE

  The U.S. Department of Education has awarded the Virginia
  Department of Education a grant that will enable the department
  to reimburse part or all of the cost of the 1999 Advanced
  Placement test fees for low-income students who are enrolled in
  an Advanced Placement class and plan to take an Advanced
  Placement test.  The purpose of this grant is to increase the
  participation of low-income students in Advanced Placement
  classes and testing.  While a majority of Virginia's high
  schools participate in the program, some divisions have
  indicated that there are students capable of taking Advanced
  Placement courses, but cannot afford to take the exams.

  Virginia's grant award of $51,862 may not be adequate to meet
  the demands of school divisions.  Consequently, the Department
  of Education needs to establish a formula for the distribution
  of these funds in an equitable manner.  Please find attached a
  survey form requesting that you provide the department with (1)
  the total number of students in your division who are enrolled
  in Advanced Placement courses for the 1998-1999 school year;
  (2) the number of students who plan to take the Advanced
  Placement exam in 1998-1999; and (3) how many of these students
  could be classified in the low-income category.  Students
  eligible for free or reduced-price lunches, students whose
  families receive assistance under the Aid to Families with
  Dependent Children program, or students eligible to receive
  medical assistance under the Medicaid program may be classified
  as low-income.  The Department of Education will develop a
  formula for distribution of the funds based upon the data
  received from this survey.

  Please return the enclosed survey form to Vernon L. 
  Wildy at the Virginia Department of Education, P. O. Box 2120,
  Richmond, Virginia 23218-2120 by October 30, 1998.  For further
  information, you may call Vernon L. Wildy at (804) 225-2877.  

  PDS/vlw

  Attachment:  A hard copy of this memo and its attachment
               will be sent to the superintendent's office.


                           1998-1999
             ADVANCED PLACEMENT FEE PAYMENT PROGRAM
                             SURVEY

  1. School Division                                            

  2. Number of students who are enrolled in an Advanced        
       Placement course for the 1998-1999 school year             

  3. Number of students who plan to take an Advanced Placement
       exam in 1998-1999              

  4. Number of low-income students who plan to take an Advanced
       Placement exam during the 1998-1999 school year            

     A student may be classified as low-income if any one of
       the following three criteria apply.
     a. The student is eligible for free or reduced-price      
          lunches.
     b. The student's family receives assistance under the Aid 
          to Families with Dependent Children program.
     c. The student is eligible to receive medical assistance
          under the Medicaid program.

  5.                     ASSURANCES

  The Local Education Agency assures that:
  *    The survey information is correct to the best of its 
       knowledge;
  *    Any funds received under the Advanced Placement Fee 
       Program will only be used to pay Advanced Placement fees 
       for "low-income individuals"; and
  *    Funds provided under this program will be used to 
       supplement, and not supplant, other federal, state, and 
       local or private funds available to assist low-income 
       individuals in paying for Advanced Placement testing.



     _____________________________________            _______________________
     Superintendent/Designee Signature                 Date

     _____________________________________     ______________________________
     Superintendent/Designee Name              Designee Title

           Return Survey Form by October 30, 1998 to:

                        Vernon L. Wildy
                Virginia Department of Education
                         P. O. Box 2120
                 Richmond, Virginia 23218-2120