Advanced Coursework

Massachusetts State Advanced Placement (AP) Exam Fee Subsidy and International Baccalaureate (IB) Program 2026-2027

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has committed up to $1,200,000 for Advanced Placement AP and International Baccalaureate IB exam fee subsidies in all subjects for low-income public-school students for SY 2026-2027.

District Information for Massachusetts MA State Advanced Placement AP Exam Fee Subsidy

The 2026-2027 Breakdown of the Advanced Placement 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 Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 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 Advanced Placement 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 Advanced Placement AP exam fee subsidy. We go by the College Board eligibility criteria and procedures as outlined in College Board Advanced Placement 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 Massachusetts MA State International Baccalaureate IB Exam Fee Subsidy

The 2026-2027 Breakdown of the International Baccalaureate 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 Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 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 International Baccalaureate 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 International Baccalaureate IB exam fee subsidy. Use the College Board eligibility criteria outlined in College Board Advanced Placement AP Exam Fee Reductions .
4. Complete Form A and Form B
5. Email completed forms to CCTE@mass.gov no later than May 1, 2027.

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

Additional Advanced Coursework Resources

Additional tools and resources to drive student success in Advanced Placement can be found on MassInsight's website .

**Disclosure Statement: Reference in this website to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public and does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Our office is not responsible for and does not in any way guarantee the accuracy of information in other sites accessible through links herein. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education may supplement this list with other services and products that meet the specified criteria. For more information contact: ccte@mass.gov .

Last Updated: September 9, 2026