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Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) Exam Fee Subsidy Program

Massachusetts State Advanced Placement (AP) Exam Fee Subsidy and International Baccalaureate (IB) Program 2022-2023

Exam fee subsidy available for low-income Massachusetts public school students taking AP and IB exams in May 2023.

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has committed to provide AP and IB exam fee subsidies for all low-income public-school students.

(Note: This subsidy does not apply to low-income students participating in virtual STEM AP courses through the STEM AP Access Expansion Opportunity (SAPAO) grant, as the exam fees are already fully covered through that grant.)

The 2022-2023 Breakdown of the AP Exam fee for low-income eligible students:

Cost ComponentAmount Per Exam
Student or School/District Contribution$15
Massachusetts State Subsidy$38
College Board Fee Reduction$35
College Board Exam Rebate (Waived for Students from Low-Income families)$9
Total Exam Fee$97

The 2022-2023 Fee Breakdown for AP Seminar Exams and AP Research Exams for eligible students:

Cost ComponentAmount Per Exam
Student or School/District Contribution$15
Massachusetts State Subsidy Capstone$86
College Board Fee Reduction$35
College Board Exam Rebate (Waived for Students from Low-Income families)$9
Total Exam Fee$145

Steps You Need to Take to Apply for the above MA State AP Exam Fee Subsidy

For AP Subsidy

  1. Confirm that the students are enrolled in the Advanced Placement courses they are taking the exams in, and determine students' low-income eligibility using the same criteria as College Board. (Note: This subsidy does not apply to low-income students participating in virtual STEM AP courses through the STEM AP Access Expansion Opportunity (SAPAO) grant, as the exam fees are already fully covered through that grant.)
  2. Complete Form A . High schools are required to maintain secure files of the form and all supporting documents of student eligibility for up to 5 years. The state program coordinator may conduct on-site reviews of the files for verifying student eligibility. High schools must ensure that all information documenting student eligibility for the AP exam fee subsidy remain confidential.
  3. Participating in Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) does not automatically qualify all student in the school or district for state low-income AP and IB exam fee subsidy. We go by the College Board eligibility criteria and procedures as outlined in College Board AP Exam Fee Reductions. See Fee Reduction Eligibility Criteria. Follow the Advanced Placement (AP) invoicing process which remains the same as outlined by College Board.

For IB Fee Subsidy

  1. Confirm that the students are enrolled in the International Baccalaureate (IB) course that they are taking the exams in, and determine students' low-income eligibility using the same criteria as College Board.
  2. Complete Form A . High schools are required to maintain secure files of the form and all supporting documents of student eligibility for up to 5 years. The state program coordinator may conduct on-site reviews of the files for verifying student eligibility. High schools must ensure that all information documenting student eligibility for the IB exam fee subsidy remain confidential. Do not send to DESE!
  3. Complete Form B
  4. Email completed forms from (c) to Meto Raha no later than May 31, 2023.

Last Updated: October 26, 2022

 
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