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 2000 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 $51,682.00 will 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 
1999-2000 school year; (2) the number of students who 
plan to take the Advanced Placement exam in 1999-2000; 
and (3) how many of these students could be classified 
in the low-income category. Students eligible for free 
or reduced-priced 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 
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, 
1999.

For further information, you may call Vernon L. Wildy 
at (804) 225-2877.

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


                                       Attachment 
                        1999-2000
         ADVANCED PLACEMENT FEE PAYMENT PROGRAM
                          SURVEY

1.      School Division: 

2.      Number of students who are enrolled in an Advanced 
        Placement course for the school year 1999-2000 
        school year:                                           
3.      Number of students who plan to take an Advanced 
        Placement exam in 1999-2000:                               
4.      Number of low-income students who plan to take an 
        Advanced Placement exam during the 1999-2000 
        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.
*  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, 1999 to:

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