(FRANKFORT, Ky.) -- The Covington Independent school district is Kentucky's first recipient of an Advanced Placement (AP) Start Up Grant.
The College Board, which oversees the AP program nationally, created the Start Up grant program to provide assistance to schools that want to start a new AP program or strengthen an existing one. The grant covers the cost of professional development, classroom supplies and resources.
Covington Independent will receive $32,000 in grant monies for the 2005-06 school year, with the possibility of further funding in later years. The College Board reviews grant recipients on an annual basis, evaluates program effectiveness and determines needs. Recipients usually are eligible for additional funding for two years following an initial award.
The funds will be used to:
- provide training to vertical teacher teams -- groups of teachers in specific content areas at middle and high schools -- in language arts, social studies, math and science
- create a new AP English Language and Composition course for juniors at Holmes High School
- provide professional development for middle and high school teachers
- train middle and high school administrators in program-building techniques
- provide increased networking and mentoring opportunities for students, teachers and parents
School personnel also will attend the AP National Convention to be held July 14-18 in Houston, Texas. Last year, Covington Independent's AP program saw a 15-point improvement in its pass rate, which is the percentage of students scoring a 3, 4 or 5 on AP exams.
The College Board awards ten Start Up grants on an annual basis and provides a facilitator to help the district through the implementation process. Schools and districts submit written applications to the College Board, which evaluates the proposals and makes site visits.
Kentucky students may take AP courses in their schools or through the Kentucky Virtual High School. Thirty-four Advanced Placement courses are offered in Kentucky, ranging from foreign languages to advanced math. Students take the courses, then participate in rigorous examinations. They can earn credit, advanced college placement or both, depending on their scores, which may range from 1 to 5. As a result of Senate Bill 74, passed in the 2002 session of the General Assembly, Kentucky's public universities must provide credit hours for a score of 3 or above.
In the 2003-04 school year, 9,688 Kentucky public school students took 15,211 AP exams.
The College Board is a not-for-profit membership association whose mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the association is composed of more than 4,700 schools, colleges, universities, and other educational organizations. Among its best-known programs are the SAT, the PSAT/NMSQT®, and the Advanced Placement Program® (AP).
##