Agenda Item
a. College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Exams (Not to exceed $530,000)
Summary: Presented by: Dr. Candace Alexander, Chief of Accountability & Continuous Improvement, Division of Accountability & Continuous Improvement
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education approve the purchase of Advanced Placement Exams from College Board for the SY24-25 test administration in an amount not to exceed $530,000.
The requested purchase is a testing expenditure that does not require bid per the District’s Purchasing Board Policy (DJE).
Why: This solution supports Strategic Goal Area 1: Student Academic Success with Equity and Access.
The District’s purchase of an AP exam for students enrolled in an AP course will provide greater access and equity for students to complete graduation requirements while potentially earning college credit.
National research studies submit that students who successfully complete an AP course are more likely to graduate high school and graduate from college.
Additionally, measurements associated with the State’s College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) cite both student AP exam performance and successful participation in AP courses as accountability indicators and performance targets for high schools.
Details: Advanced Placement courses are college-level courses offered in high school. Students can earn college credit from scoring a level 3, 4, or 5 on the exam.
In the past, the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) has paid the cost for one Advanced Placement exam for students who qualify for the Free and Reduced Lunch program and one Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) focused Advanced Placement exam for all non-free and reduced lunch students. Per GaDOE, the 2024-2025 funding confirmation will be shared at the end of August.
The list of eligible STEM-focused AP courses are as follows:
1. AP Calculus AB
2. AP Calculus BC
3. AP Pre-Calculus
4. AP Computer Science A
5. AP Computer Science Principles
6. AP Statistics
7. AP Biology
8. AP Chemistry
9. AP Environmental Science
10. AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
11. AP Physics C: Mechanics
12. AP Physics 1: Algebra Based
13. AP Physics 2: Algebra Based
Financial impact: The estimated cost is calculated as the number of students who are currently registered for an Advanced Placement course multiplied by the cost of the exam.
Exam costs are determined by the College Board and vary based on the economic status of the child. Exams fees are as follows: $99 (non-free and reduced lunch students) and $62 (free and reduced lunch students).
The purchase amount not to exceed $530,000 will be paid using general funds budgeted by the Division of Accountability and Continuous Improvement. The charge code is 100.2210.553200.00011.7540.9990.8010.030.0000.
Contact: Dr. Candace Alexander, Chief of Accountability & Continuous Improvement, Division of Accountability & Continuous Improvement , 678.676.0300
Ms. Stacy E. Stepney, Chief Academic Officer, Division of Curriculum & Instruction, 678.676.0731
Dr. Felicia G. Rhone, Director, Assessment Administration, Division of Accountability & Continuous Improvement, 678.676.0300
Effective: SY 2024-2025
Status: Attorney Approval Not Required