R.I. receives $60K from U.S. Education Department for low-income AP test takers

PROVIDENCE – The R.I. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education received $60,442 of the $28.4 million in Advanced Placement Test Fee grants awarded to 41 states and Washington, D.C., by the U.S. Department of Education for Advanced Placement Grants to help low-income families afford the placement exam, according to an announcement Tuesday.

The grants, explained James Cole Jr., general counsel delegated the duties of deputy secretary, are part of the national department’s campaign to help historically underserved, low-income students build the skills necessary for college and a future career.

“The cost of a test should never prevent students from taking their first step towards higher education through advanced placement courses,” he said.

The funding pays for approved AP tests administered by the College Board, the International Baccalaureate Organization and Cambridge International Examinations.

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Funding varied state-by-state and was determined by the number of tests each state estimated would be taken by low-income students. Alaska received the smallest grant funding, $3,387, while California received $11 million, the most for a single state.

Compared to last year, in 2016 the nationwide estimated number of tests increased to 862,204 from 831,913 – almost 4 percent.

Covering the test fees for low-income students encourages more of the population to obtain college credit for high school courses, shortening the amount of time and cost of a college degree. The $28.4 million awarded nationwide is anticipated to cover all but $15 of each test fee, and states may require the student to pay a portion the remainder.

These grants are managed and administered by the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. In total, including those grants announced Tuesday, more than $190 million has been awarded by the Obama administration through the Advanced Placement Test Fee program.

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