The Mississippi Department of Education was awarded over $180,000 in grants for low-income students to take Advanced Placement tests.
According to a press release from MDE, Mississippi was one of 41 states to receive a total of $28.4 million in funding to help with the cost of these college-minded tests.
For the third consecutive year, qualifying students from low-income families are eligible to receive financing in order to take Advanced Placement tests that could give students college credit for high school courses, the release states.
The grant program encourages students to take these college tests as a way to reduce the time and cost of a higher education degree, the release states.
“These grants help create equitable access to opportunities to earn college credit while in high school,” said Mississippi Superintendent of Education Dr. Carey Wright in the release. “There is no limit to what students can achieve when financial barriers are removed and students are given the opportunity to excel.”
Funding was based on how many students from low-income families were expected to take Advanced Placement tests, according to the release.
According to the MDE website, the total exam fee, including student contribution and federal funding, for each AP exam is $91.
The federal subsidy covers $38, the College Board fee reduction is $29, the $9 rebate to the school is waived for low-income students and each student’s contribution is $15, according to the site.
“We are working to increase the number of students exposed to AP courses and exams,” MDE Executive Director of Secondary Education Jean Massey said in the release.
According to the release, MDE estimates the funding will be enough to cover the costs for each low-income student expected to take Advanced Placement tests this year, except for $15.
“We are working to increase the number of students exposed to AP courses and exams,” Massey said in the release. “The AP exams let us know that students are getting a good AP experience and are prepared for postsecondary coursework.”
According to the MDE website, there are 35 different AP courses that can be offered in the U.S., including arts, math, English, science and history, but each high school has different offerings.
The exams are offered in May each year, according to the site.