DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O.
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 45
December
12, 2008
ADMINISTRATIVE
|
TO: |
Division Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Patricia I Wright Superintendent of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
Advanced Placement and International
Baccalaureate Test Fee Payment Program |
The United States Department of Education (USED) posted the
2009 Advanced Placement(AP)and International
Baccalaureate (IB)Test Fee Program grant opportunity on October 31, 2008. 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 2009 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 from the federal AP and IB
Test Fee Program, the Virginia Department of Education will pay $56 per AP and
$60 per 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.
Funds provided under this program may 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.
School divisions that have a program in place that pays test
fees for all AP and IB tests are not eligible for this program, as it would
constitute supplanting.
In order to allocate any funds that may be awarded to the
Department in spring 2009, the Department must collect certain data that are
required by the USED. These data will be collected in an electronic survey due
by January 23, 2009. 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 December 17, 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:
Ann M. Sheehan
Title I 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
or by telephone at (804) 371-2932.
PIW/RS/AMS
a. Worksheet That May be Used Before Submitting Data in Electronic Survey (Word)