CI&IT

Curriculum, Instruction & Instructional Technology

Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Program Fee Waiver Program

Date: November 09

To: Advanced Placement Coordinators and International Baccalaureate Coordinators

From: Mary C. Daley

Subject: Federal Advanced Placement Test Fee Program for Low-Income Students

Under the United States Department of Education (USDOE) Advanced Placement Test Fee Program, the New York State Education Department (SED) receives federal funding to provide College Board Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate examinations to low income students free of charge, enabling public and private schools to provide opportunities to students who would otherwise be unable to participate in advanced placement courses and examinations. 
The purpose of the Advanced Placement Test Fee Reimbursement Program is to remove the financial barriers that prevent many economically disadvantaged students from taking the College Board Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses and examinations.  High schools are strongly encouraged to take steps to ensure equitable student access to advanced placement classes and to promote parent/guardian and student awareness of this opportunity. Schools must ensure that all students and their parents/guardians are fully aware of, and are provided access to, these important resources.

Eligibility – A student qualifies for the test fee and/or registration fee if he/she:

  • Is eligible for free or reduced lunch under the National School Lunch Act, and/or

 

  • Receives assistance from Social Security under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, and/or
  • Receives medical assistance under the Medicaid program. 

 

Please note that the participating public and private school is responsible for low-income student eligibility documentation and that the records for this program are subject to audit.

What New York schools must do for the 2010 College Board Advanced Placement Program:
The AP Coordinator must determine each student’s eligibility and retain a verifiable list of students who qualify for fee reductions and the number of examinations taken by each student.   No fees should be collected from students qualifying for the fee reductions.  Documentation of student eligibility records are subject to audit and should be kept for five years. 
After the administration of the examinations, the AP Coordinator must:

  • Fill in the "Option 1" oval on qualifying students' AP Exam answer sheets.
  • Submit the State Copy of the College Board invoice to the State office indicated on the invoice. (The College Board will bill the State directly for qualifying students' AP Exam fees). AND,
  • Fill out and submit the roster Word document icon (89 KB)  http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/gt/ap/nyaproster.doc of students and exams taken provided by the SED office.  AND,
  • Obtain a verifying signature from the School Principal (ensuring that no funds were collected from eligible students) on the State Roster.

What New York schools must do for the International Baccalaureate Program: 
The State Education Department will reimburse the school for the both IB examination costs ($92.00) and student registration fees ($135.00) for eligible students.  The IB Coordinator must verify the eligibility of each student using the any of the approved eligibility standards.  No fees should be collected from students qualifying for the fee reductions. 
After the administration of the examinations, the IB Coordinator must:

  • Fill out the State roster of eligible students, listing the registration fee and exams taken must by each student.   A copy of the form should be retained for 5 years for audit purposes. This State roster form is available at:  ibroster.doc Word document icon (89 KB)  http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/gt/ap/ibroster.doc
  • Have the roster signed by the School Principal and indicate that no eligible students were charged the $135 registration fee nor were they charged $92.00 for any of the exams.
  • Send the roster, along with a completed NYS Standard Voucher http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/gt/ap/examstandardvoucher.pdf to the State Education Department.   Upon receipt of the paperwork, the State Education Department will then pay the school the full amount listed on the roster. 

If you have further questions you may contact Ed Donnelly at the State Education Department office at (518) 474-8773 or e-mail edonnell@mail.nysed.gov.

Note:  Section 1706 of ESEA requires that grant funds provided under the AP Test Fee program supplement, and not supplant, other non-Federal funds that are available to assist low-income individuals in paying for the cost of advanced placement test fees.
 

It is our hope that the current Federal Fee Waiver Program will substantially increase the equity of access for all students to these advanced programs.    Thank you for your cooperation and assistance in this important initiative.

Last Updated: November 24, 2009