Montana Wins Grant to Expand Advance Placement Program to Low-Income Students

Grant Will Help Low-Income Students with Fees to Take AP Tests, Earn College Credits

Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau announced today that Montana has been awarded a grant that will help more low-income students pay the fees to earn college credits by taking Advanced Placement (AP) tests.

A record 16.6 percent of Montana high school seniors took college-level AP classes in 2009. The College Board in a report earlier this month says that’s up from 13.1 percent five years ago.

“This grant will help economically-disadvantaged students in Montana to reach their academic potential,” said Juneau. The fee for one test is $86.

The $25,000 AP Test Fee Program from the U.S. Department of Education will help the Office of Public Instruction to pay for advanced placement test fees for low-income students who are enrolled in an Advanced Placement course and plan to take an AP exam. Students who are eligible for free or reduced-price school lunches are eligible.

The program is designed to increase the number of low-income students who take Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate tests and receive scores for which college academic credit is awarded. Advanced Placement courses and tests prepare students for college success and help offset college costs. Research shows that AP students are more likely to earn a bachelor’s degree in four years than their peers. Participation and success in AP courses also helps students qualify for college scholarships.