Advanced Placement Program (84.330)
Program
84.330 Advanced Placement Program
Federal Agency
Agency: Department of Education
Office: Office Of Elementary And Secondary Education
Authorization
Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended, Title I, Part G.
Program Number
84.330
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To award grants to State educational agencies, local educational agencies, and national non profit organizations to support State and local efforts to increase access to advance placement classes and tests for low-income students and to award grants for State educational agencies to cover part or all of the cost of test fees for low-income students enrolled in advanced placement courses.
Types of Assistance
PROJECT GRANTS
Uses and Use Restrictions
The Advanced Placement Incentive Grants program provides grants to eligible entities to enable them to increase the participation of low-income students in both pre-advanced placement and advanced placement courses and tests. The Advanced Placement Test Fee program provides awards to enable States to cover all or part of the cost of test fees for low-income students who are enrolled in advanced placement classes. The ESEA requires the Secretary to give priority to funding the Advanced Placement Test Fee program, with remaining funds allocated to Advanced Placement Incentive Grants.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Local educational agencies, nonprofit organizations, and State educational agencies may apply for AP Incentive grants. State educational agencies may apply for the AP Test Fee program.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Low-income high school students who (1) are enrolled in an advanced placement class; and (2) plan to take an advanced placement test.
Credentials/Documentation
No Credentials or documentation are required. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State selected the program for review. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.
Application Procedure
OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Secure grant application forms and instructions from the Federal Register. Prepare and address submission according to published directions.
Award Procedure
Applications are reviewed by Education Department staff. Final decisions on grants are made by the Secretary on the basis of statutory considerations.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Up to 120 days of receipt of applications.
Appeals
Not Applicable.
Renewals
Awards are made annually based on an applicant's eligibility and contingent on the availability of funds and project performance.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Awards are made for one year for the AP Test Fee program, and for up to 3 years for the AP Incentive Grant program. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Electronic transfer.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
A final report must be submitted. Reporting requirements are included in the final grant documents. Grantees also may be subject to national evaluation performed by the Department of Education. Cash reports are not applicable. Progress reports are not applicable. Expenditure reports are not applicable. Performance monitoring is not applicable.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. Additional audit requirements may be specified in the grant award documents.
Records
Records are to be maintained as indicated in the grant or contract award document.
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2008: 47 States participated in the AP Test Fee program; and 46 AP Incentive grants were awarded. Fiscal Year 2009: 41 new awards were made by the Test Fee program; 21 new awards and 20 continuation grants were made by the Incentive program. Fiscal Year 2010: 42 new awards are expected to be made by the Test Fee program; 38 continuation grants are expected to be made by the Incentive program.
Financial Information
Account Identification
91-0204-0-1-501.
Obligations
(Project Grants) FY 08 $43,540,000; FY 09 est $43,540,000; FY 10 est $43,540,000
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
No Data Available.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
EDGAR; 34 CFR 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 85, 86, and 99. Contact the Program Office for this information.
Related Programs
Not Applicable.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
Ivonne Jaime Department of Education, OESE Academic Improvement and Teacher Quality Programs, 400 Maryland Ave., S.W., Washington, District of Columbia 20202 Email: ivonne.jaime@ed.gov Phone: (202) 260-1519
Web Site Address
http://www.ed.gov/programs/apfee/index.html, http://www.ed.gov/programs/apincent/index.html.
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2008: Awards support activities to increase the participation of low-income students in both pre-advanced placement and advanced placement courses. Grants support teacher training, distance learning, and training for "vertical teams" or teachers from different grade levels in a given subject. Grants also help procure books and supplies and support other activities directly related to expanding access to, and participation in, advanced placement courses and tests for low-income students. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
To receive funds under the AP Test Fee program, an SEA must submit information to the Department describing the Advanced Placement test fees the State will pay on behalf of individual students along with assurances that (1) the requested funds will supplement and not supplant existing fee payment efforts; (2) there will be a method by which low-income individuals will be identified and that funds will be used to serve this population; and (3) there will be a description of the applicant's plan to disseminate information on the availability of test fee payments to eligible individuals through secondary school teachers and guidance counselors. To receive an AP Incentive grant, eligible entities must expand access for low-income individuals to advanced placement programs. Eligible activities include teacher training, development of pre-advanced placement courses, coordination and articulation between grade levels to prepare students for academic achievement in AP or IB courses, books and supplies, and participation in online AP or IB course. In awarding grants, the Secretary gives priority to applications that: (1) demonstrate a pervasive need for access to AP incentive programs; (2) provide for the involvement of business and community organizations in the activities to be assisted; (3) assure the availability of matching funds from State, local, or other sources; (4) demonstrate a focus on developing or expanding AP programs and participation in the core academic areas of English, mathematics, and science; (5) demonstrate an intent to carry out activities that target LEAs serving schools with a high concentration of low-income students, or schools with a high concentration of low-income students; and (6) in the case of applications submitted by LEAs, assure that the LEA serves schools with a high concentration of low-income students; or (7) demonstrates an intent to carry out activities to increase the availability of, and participation in, on-line AP courses.
