By Sarah Campbell
scampbell@salisburypost.com
About 20 percent of the Advanced Placement (AP) exams taken in the Rowan-Salisbury School System during the 2011-12 academic year were covered by grant dollars.
Kathy McDuffie, the district’s director of secondary education, said the district received $12,879 to cover expenses for 243 exams. A total of 1,229 exams were administered.
“It does affect students’ ability to take the courses when you think about what X amount of dollars means for a family who is struggling,” she said.
Students who enroll in AP classes are required to take the exam, which typically costs $87.
Those who score at least a 3 can earn college credit. The classes also offer a higher quality point average, giving students a chance to boost their GPA.
The N.C. Department of Public Instruction announced Thursday that it has received a grant through the federal Advanced Placement Test Fee Program to cover the cost $800,000 worth of fees for low-income students.
The grant has been distributed to the state since 2003, but McDuffie said last year was the first time Rowan-Salisbury had received such funds.
“We didn’t know we were going to get the fee waiver until the year had already started,” she said. “Our original plan was that they would pay part of the fee rather than the full amount.”
McDuffie anticipates an uptick in the number of students taking the college-level courses as students find out about the possibility of a waiver to cover exam costs.
“I think this will help parents and students understand that the exam requirement and the cost is not a reason not to take the course,” she said. “This is a great opportunity for our students,” she said.
This year’s grant will pay for exam costs for more than 8,000 economically disadvantaged students across the state.
Students who receive free or reduced lunch qualify to receive assistance.
The Rowan-Salisbury district offers about 20 AP courses including biology, chemistry, calculus and U.S. History.
They are offered in both the traditional classroom setting and online through the North Carolina Virtual Public School.
Contact reporter Sarah Campbell at 704-797-7683.
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