Briefs: Grant to aid low-income AP students

Colorado will receive a federal grant totaling $653,573 to cover all or part of fees charged to low-income students taking Advanced Placement tests, the U.S. Department of Education announced Wednesday.

The state’s share is among more than $21.5 million in grants to 43 states. They’re expected to be enough to pay up to $38 per AP exam for as many as three exams per student, based on the anticipated number of test-takers and other factors.

“These funds will help eliminate financial roadblocks for more low-income students and allow them to fully benefit from the AP program,” said Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

Each state’s funding level was determined based on estimates of the numbers of tests that would be taken by low-income students. More details in this press release.

TCAP release: Results of the 2012 administration of the state’s annual exams are scheduled for public release next week, during Wednesday’s State Board of Education meeting. EdNews will have full results and analysis. This year’s release will be the first results of the Transitional Colorado Assessment Program or TCAP, the successor to the long-running CSAP program.

Names in the news: Myles Mendoza, formerly with the Denver Scholarship Foundation and Democrats for Education Reform, has been named executive director of the Aspen-based Summit 54 foundation. The group works to determine gaps in the education system, find programs to address the areas of need and develop a strategy to scale the most successful programs. Since its launch two years ago, Summit 54 has invested nearly $2 million in programs such as College Track, Aurora and Summer Advantage in the Roaring Fork Valley. More details in this press release.

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