COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 8

January 14, 2005

INFORMATIONAL

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Jo Lynne DeMary Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	New Advanced Placement Foreign Language Courses

In an effort to encourage high schools in the United States to increase foreign language offerings, The College Board is adding the following language courses to the Advanced Placement (AP) program: Chinese, Japanese, Italian, and Russian. The first AP Italian language and culture courses will be offered in the fall of 2005 followed by the exam in May of 2006. The AP Japanese and AP Chinese classes will be offered in the fall of 2006 with exams in May of 2007. A course in Russian language and culture is being developed and the timeline for the launch of this course and exam is contingent upon further evaluation and approval.

If you would like further information and updates please visit the following College Board websites or contact Faye Rollings-Carter, Faye.Rollings-Carter@doe.virginia.gov, specialist for foreign languages, Office of Middle and High School Instruction, at (804) 225-2593.

AP Japanese: http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/article/0,3045,151-165-0-37222,00.html

AP Chinese: http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/article/0,3045,151-165-0-37221,00.html

AP Italian:

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/article/0,3045,151-165-0-28458,00.html

AP Russian:

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/article/0,3045,151-165-0-37220,00.html

JLD/yba