(Frankfort, KY) – In an effort to increase students’ opportunity to take
Advanced Placement exams, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE)
will underwrite the cost of the tests in the 2016-17 school year for
students who qualify for free and reduced-price lunch.
“The Kentucky Department of Education is committed to closing the
opportunity gap for students, and as such, believes all students should
have equal access to the benefits of AP coursework,” Commissioner of
Education Stephen Pruitt said. “Nothing, including the testing fee,
should stand in the way. All of our students should have the opportunity
to enroll in AP classes and take the corresponding AP test for college
credit.”
In 2016, more than 4,000 colleges and universities around the world
received qualifying AP test scores for college credit, advanced
placement, and/or consideration in the admission process, with many
colleges and universities in the United States offering credit in one or
more subjects for qualifying AP scores.
While KRS 160.348(3) requires costs of the AP exams to be paid by the
KDE, state funding has not been available. In the past, the KDE worked
to secure federal grants to pay the fees for private and public school
students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch (FRL).
Unfortunately, the recently enacted Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
removes the grant provision (AP Test Fee Program) providing dedicated
federal Title I funds for this purpose.
It is estimated that it will cost the department up to $800,000 to
underwrite the tests for qualifying students. Pruitt said because
student opportunity and access is such a high priority for the
department, he has reallocated the money from other areas. Without the
department covering the fee, it would be up to districts to pay the $53
test fee for students in poverty.
While students from all backgrounds can benefit from taking challenging
coursework in high school, data from 2016 shows that nationwide among
African American, Hispanic and Native American students with the
potential to succeed in AP courses, only about half enroll in this
rigorous coursework.
“We must encourage all students to participate in Advanced Placement
coursework, not just those who typically have done so in the past,”
Pruitt said. “Research shows that when presented with rigorous
coursework and provided with the necessary supports, students rise to
the occasion.”
In recent years, Kentucky has worked to expand AP access to
underrepresented student groups, and participation and success in
academically rigorous coursework such as AP classes through the
AdvanceKentucky<http://www.advancekentucky.com/> initiative. A total of
109 Kentucky public high schools have participated since its inception
in 2008.
Among the elements of success that AdvanceKentucky promotes as part of
its program are:
· Open Enrollment: A culture of inclusiveness and preparation for more
students to enroll and be successful in Advanced Placement math, science and English
(MSE) classes.
· AP Courses in MSE: Advanced Placement college-level courses in Math,
Science and English subjects.
· Student Time-on-Task: Tutoring, 15 to 18 hours of student study sessions
for each AP course, and other supports made readily available to students.
· Exam Fees: Supplements to help cover 50 percent of AP exam fees not
provided from other sources.
· Incentives: $100 per qualifying score (3, 4, or 5) on AP exams in MSE.
· Counseling/Recruiting: Supportive information and briefings (especially in
the early grades) to help with student/family decisions to prepare for and enroll in
AP.
· Teacher Training: Rigorous content-focused five-day summer institute (or
pre-approved equivalent) for all AP teachers for the first two years, two-day
AdvanceKentucky Fall Forum training during the academic year and four-day summer
Laying the Foundation institute for five pre-AP teachers each for three years
(others welcome to attend with registration fee).
· AP Teacher Mentors: Master AP teacher mentor colleagues on relevant subject
matter on a path to new learning among AP students. (A stipend is paid to the mentor
per mentee served; the contract is between the Mentor and the Kentucky Science and
Technology Corporation to serve AdvanceKentucky teachers.)
The AP participation and performance of various student groups in
Kentucky’s public high schools has increased significantly under
AdvanceKentucky’s mission to engage more students traditionally
underrepresented in AP, including minority and low-income students.
