Kentucky Department of Education

Credit-Based transitions contacts, related links, professional development, data, tools and resources.

The state of Kentucky (with a grant from US Department of Education) will pay $53 per exam. 

The College Board contribution to low-income students will be $26 per exam, with no cap on the number of subsidized exams per low-income student in 2012.

This combination of federal and College Board subsidies results in a:

·   $0 per AP exam for eligible low-income students

A student is eligible for the AP Exam Fee Waiver if the student, 1) qualifies for free or reduced lunch, AND 2) was enrolled in the AP class for the 2011-2012 school year.

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Credit-Based Transition courses are rigorous courses designed to give students the opportunity to earn college credit while in high school. This can be done in a number of ways. Credit-Based Transition courses can take several forms:

• Advanced Placement (AP)
• International Baccalaureate (IB)
• Dual Credit/Dual Enrollment
• Performance-based Credit 

The Advanced Placement (AP) Program is governed by the College Board. There are over 35 college-level courses available.  Most of these are offered in our local Kentucky high schools. Students take an end-of course exam and, based on their numerical score, may be awarded college credit for the course. 

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Program focuses on high-quality education with a rigorous college preparatory curriculum. IB promotes a positive attitude toward learning by helping students “learn how to learn.” The IB program also focuses on intercultural communication and understanding, which is critical for 21st century success. Similar to the AP program, students have the opportunity to earn college credit based upon their scores on end-of-course exams.

Dual Credit is a program that allows students to enroll in high school courses to earn high school and college credit simultaneously. These courses may be taught on the high school or college campus, or online.  Students may be asked to pay a tuition fee in order to enroll (this will vary according to school and district policy).

Performance-Based Credits are credits earned by a student outside of the traditional of the high school classroom. Individual school districts establish policies for this type of program.