Students and parents will pay only 25 percent of the AP exam fee

Contact: Haley Miller (336) 370-3200
Created: 8/13/2009 5:20:17 PM

With budget reductions forcing Guilford County Schools (GCS) to begin sharing the cost of Advanced Placement (AP) exams with parents, a local organization is stepping in to help cover some of the cost. In the past, GCS has paid for all students to take AP exams, which costs $86 per test. The Guilford County Board of Education approved Tuesday a plan to share the cost with parents and Businesses for Excellence in Education (BEE). With the partnership, GCS and BEE will pay for 75 percent of the exam, while parents will pay the remaining $21.50. Students who are on free and reduced lunch will continue to take the exam for free, as their exams are paid for by the College Board and the N.C. Department of Public Instruction.

"We are extremely excited that Businesses for Excellence in Education has stepped in to help pay for these exams," said Barbara Zwadyk, chief curriculum and organizational development officer for GCS. The funding will allow GCS to move forward with important strategic plan initiatives. "As a district, we are mindful of our strategic plan goals to increase participation and scores by six percentage points in each area," Zwadyk said. BEE is an Action Greensboro initiative dedicated to public education and, in particular, raising student performance, closing the achievement gap, promoting excellence in education and enhancing teacher quality.

"With this new partnership, Businesses for Excellence in Education moves forward our commitment to promote excellence in the schools," said Harris, executive director of Action Greensboro. "Advanced Placement exams prepare students to master in depth content at the college level. Students also acquire sophisticated academic skills and increased self-confidence in preparation for college. We are very pleased to assist with this initiative."

With this change, while students will not be required to take the AP tests, the expectation to test remains. Students will be granted the AP quality point as earned in the course, and a teacher-created final exam will be administered and be weighted 25 percent of the final average.

The district will operate under open enrollment in AP courses and will strengthen efforts to encourage and schedule all students in at least one AP course during their high school years. The district will determine students' potential in AP courses using data from 10th grade PSAT scores and End-of-Grade scores.

In 2009, GCS continued to show an increase in the number of AP exams given and in the number of students taking AP exams. The number of AP exams taken in GCS increased 7.6 percent from the previous year.