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Massachusetts State Advanced Placement (AP) Exam Fee Subsidy and International Baccalaureate (IB) Program 2025-2026

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has committed up to $1,100,000 for AP and IB exam fee subsidies in all subjects for low-income public-school students for SY 2025-2026.

District Information for MA State AP Exam Fee Subsidy

The 2025-2026 Breakdown of the AP Exam fee for low-income eligible students:

Required Action Items for Districts:

1. Confirm that students are enrolled in the Advanced Placement courses for which they are taking the exams and determine students' low-income eligibility using the same criteria as College Board.
2. Ensure all College Board registration deadlines are met.
3. High schools are required to maintain documentation with supporting evidence of student eligibility for up to 5 years. Please do not send this information to DESE. The state 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 remains confidential.
   • Participating in Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) does not automatically qualify all students in the school or district for state low-income AP exam fee subsidy. We go by the College Board eligibility criteria and procedures as outlined in College Board AP Exam Fee Reductions . Read the section on Fee Reduction Eligibility Criteria.
4. Follow the Advanced Placement (AP) invoicing process which remains the same as outlined by College Board .
5. Late or cancellation fees are not covered by this program.

District Information for MA State IB Exam Fee Subsidy

The 2025-2026 Breakdown of the IB Exam fee for low-income eligible students:

Required Action Items for Districts:

1. Confirm that students are enrolled in the International Baccalaureate courses for which they are taking the exams.
2. Determine students' low-income eligibility using the same criteria as College Board.
3. High schools are required to maintain documentation with supporting evidence of student eligibility for up to 5 years. Please do not send this information to DESE. The state 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 remains confidential.
   1. Participating in Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) does not automatically qualify all students in the school or district for state low-income IB exam fee subsidy. Use the College Board eligibility criteria outlined in College Board AP Exam Fee Reductions .
4. Complete Form A and Form B
5. Email completed forms to CCTE@mass.gov no later than May 1, 2026.

Note: Reimbursement will be honored until allocated funds run out; incorrect or incomplete applications will not be processed.

Last Updated: September 16, 2025