AP exams free next year?

[Anonymous]

Someone told me that all AP exams were going to be free next year. I asked how are they funding this, and they said that MCPS cut funding to some mental health program that wasn't working.

I am curious what that program was that failed, and how they determined that it wasn't working. I think it's great that MCPS can offer free AP exams, and if that is where my taxes are going to, I'm glad. But I'm also concerned about MCPS funding other programs that aren't working.

First 2.0 curriculum debacle, anti-racist audit that has no teeth, and Restorative Justice that my teens tell me everyone sees as a joke. MCPS was supposed to hire 50 mental health professionals, but they have been barely able to staff half, if that.

They just approved a property tax raise. Is there an accounting of how successful, or not, these special programs are?

[Anonymous]

Troll. No way there was a tradeoff between mental health program and AP tests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Troll. No way there was a tradeoff between mental health program and AP tests.

I'm not a troll.

So, then where did they get the funding from for free AP exams?

[Anonymous]

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/CSJR4E67517D/$file/Final%20Adopt%20of%20FY%202024%20Op%20Bdgt%20230606.pdf

• Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams funding for increased student
participation—$3,397,401

[Anonymous]

That's ridiculous. Montgomery County is one of the wealthiest areas of the country. Why pay for AP exams for students whose parents can easily afford them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Troll. No way there was a tradeoff between mental health program and AP tests.

I'm not a troll.

So, then where did they get the funding from for free AP exams?

Same place they get funding for hundreds of items in the budget - local taxes and statewide grants from taxes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's ridiculous. Montgomery County is one of the wealthiest areas of the country. Why pay for AP exams for students whose parents can easily afford them?

Why pay for buses? Why pay for textbooks? Why pay the teachers?

[Anonymous]

It’s part of the implementation of College and Career Ready from the Maryland Blueprint.

[Anonymous]

I would be so happy if they cut funding for Leader In Me, but even though some schools opted out, we are still spending millions on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's ridiculous. Montgomery County is one of the wealthiest areas of the country. Why pay for AP exams for students whose parents can easily afford them?

WTF. MoCo is extremely economically diverse. And these exams can be expensive even for middle class families. We have two teens and have spent over 1000 dollars on AP and IB exams so far. My husband always insists on pushing the kids on whether they want to take the exams which pisses me off - I want them to take all of them. He doesn't want to pay the 125 necessarily. Plenty of people don't take the exams because they are expensive. Our HHI is 115k. Not poor, but hundreds in AP and IB fees makes a difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's ridiculous. Montgomery County is one of the wealthiest areas of the country. Why pay for AP exams for students whose parents can easily afford them?

Half (49.8%) of MCPS high school students receive free/reduced meals or have received free/reduced meals in the past.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's ridiculous. Montgomery County is one of the wealthiest areas of the country. Why pay for AP exams for students whose parents can easily afford them?

Agree. Pay for AP exams for FARMS kids, and let everyone else pay for their own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's ridiculous. Montgomery County is one of the wealthiest areas of the country. Why pay for AP exams for students whose parents can easily afford them?

Agree. Pay for AP exams for FARMS kids, and let everyone else pay for their own.

This. They cut out tutoring which is far more important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's ridiculous. Montgomery County is one of the wealthiest areas of the country. Why pay for AP exams for students whose parents can easily afford them?

Agree. Pay for AP exams for FARMS kids, and let everyone else pay for their own.

This. This is what I meant. Wealthy people, including the PP, can afford to pay themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's ridiculous. Montgomery County is one of the wealthiest areas of the country. Why pay for AP exams for students whose parents can easily afford them?

Agree. Pay for AP exams for FARMS kids, and let everyone else pay for their own.

This. This is what I meant. Wealthy people, including the PP, can afford to pay themselves.

So you'd rather pay to implement means-testing?