AP Start-Up Grants
Support for schools that wish to start an AP program
The AP Start-Up Grant is now accepting applications for the 2009 AP Start Up Grant cohort.
Approximately 40 percent of secondary schools in the United States do not offer AP courses. Additionally, many more schools are offering AP and experiencing little success.
The College Board's AP Start-Up Grant program was born out of a need to assist those schools that wish to start an AP program. Grant funding covers the cost of:
- Professional development
- Classroom supplies and resources
- Student support services
The assistance of a consultant is provided to guide teachers through the first academic year. The maximum award is $30,000 per school. Funding is available for up to five schools.
The AP Start-Up Grant is intended to assist schools in expanding access to AP and is aimed specifically at schools that have no AP courses. The purpose of this grant is to help establish AP in schools by providing funding for books, supplies, and teacher professional development for an AP program. Additional technical and personal support is provided directly to AP teachers participating in the grant.
Recipients of the AP Start-Up Grant must:
- Provide open access (open enrollment) for any student who wishes to accept the challenge of AP
- Make demonstrated efforts to ensure that the population of those enrolled in AP reflect the overall student demographics of the school
- Take necessary steps to ensure that students have a successful and enriching experience in AP
The AP Start-Up Grant helps schools accomplish these goals by providing:
- Funding for the purchase of college-level texts and materials
- Staff professional development
- Funding for student support services such as tutoring
- Technical assistance
- Individual mentors for all new AP teachers
The AP Start-Up Grant is renewable for up to three years. In addition to financial support, schools receive AP Vertical Teams® training, individual mentors for each AP Start-Up Grant teacher, and ongoing technical assistance and support from the College Board. The grant is implemented in two main phases. Schools must complete Phase I before beginning Phase II.
Phase I: Preparation
This year is dedicated to planning an equitable AP program, including purchase of all materials and training for faculty and staff.
Phase II: Implementation
Schools implement the AP program and offer courses and exams to their students.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the AP Start-Up Grant, schools must:
- Be a public secondary or K-12 school
- Currently offer no AP courses
Application
The AP Start-Up Grant is now accepting applications for the 2009 AP Start-Up Grant cohort. For more information, or to apply online, please click the link below. Applications must be submitted online by December 1, 2008.
Finalists will be notified in January 2009 and the recipient will be notified in March 2009.