AP and IB fees?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I do think part of the discussion though should be whether IB is really worth it. Maybe that's next year after they see what taking away the exam fees do.

Not going to happen. They are paying out the nose to expand IB to middle and elementary schools currently.

And that's the problem with this staff and with this school board. They don't examine "value" for money spent.

[Anonymous]

Isn't the number of AP and IB exams taken at each school what US News and world reports uses to rank schools?

[Anonymous]

Wait - the public schools pay the test fee for these?! Why should the school system assume the substantial cost for this for students who don't demonstrate some kind of hardship, when budgets are tight and people are screaming about cuts in services? Good grief.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait - the public schools pay the test fee for these?! Why should the school system assume the substantial cost for this for students who don't demonstrate some kind of hardship, when budgets are tight and people are screaming about cuts in services? Good grief.

They want the numbers of kids taking them to stay high.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait - the public schools pay the test fee for these?! Why should the school system assume the substantial cost for this for students who don't demonstrate some kind of hardship, when budgets are tight and people are screaming about cuts in services? Good grief.

Because the state Attorney General said schools cannot impose a mandatory fee on students.

http://www.examiner.com/article/fairfax-county-will-likely-refund-ap-test-fees

In response to a question from Senator David Marsden, Cuccinelli wrote, “It is my opinion that a local school board cannot impose a mandatory fee on students taking advanced placement courses for the required taking of the Advanced Placement Examination.”

Cuccinelli noted, “Because the Advanced Placement Examination test is the required end-of-course examination, it cannot reasonably be viewed as a service or program for which a fee may be levied.”

[Anonymous]

But the school board is not imposing the fee - the school board is requiring them to take the test (which is not a requirement in every jurisdiction and not the only way to assess students' grasp of the material), but they are not the ones imposing the fee. The fee comes from the testing agency. This is nuts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This has ramifications beyond money. If the county doesn't pay and it's left up to parents, some parents won't pay - especially if they believe their child won't pass with a 3 on the AP exam and have a chance to receive college credit. Some will be reluctant due to financial hardship. Either way testing participation will go down. AP teachers will end up encouraging select students to take the exam - those students they feel will receive a qualifying score. Teachers/schools do not look as good if they teach AP and students don't get a least a 3 on the exam. By paying for the AP tests, FCPS is almost assuring participation in the exam. Lots of sides to this.

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do think part of the discussion though should be whether IB is really worth it. Maybe that's next year after they see what taking away the exam fees do.

Oh not you again! Please find another ax to grind. Or educate yourself about IB. Not going to happen.

[Anonymous]

Am I understanding correctly that there is a GPA bump only if the AP/IB test is taken?

So if the county stops paying the fees, only the kids who can afford it will have a higher GPA?

That's messed up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Am I understanding correctly that there is a GPA bump only if the AP/IB test is taken?

So if the county stops paying the fees, only the kids who can afford it will have a higher GPA?

That's messed up.

Agreed. Most schools give the GPA bump based on your in school grade not the test since you only take the test at the end of the year but would get grades on a semester/trimester/quarterly basis.

[Anonymous]

I agree that the GPA bump should be given regardless of whether the student takes the exam. And I think students should pay something to take the exam, unless they have a financial need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait - the public schools pay the test fee for these?! Why should the school system assume the substantial cost for this for students who don't demonstrate some kind of hardship, when budgets are tight and people are screaming about cuts in services? Good grief.

Because the state Attorney General said schools cannot impose a mandatory fee on students.

http://www.examiner.com/article/fairfax-county-will-likely-refund-ap-test-fees

In response to a question from Senator David Marsden, Cuccinelli wrote, “It is my opinion that a local school board cannot impose a mandatory fee on students taking advanced placement courses for the required taking of the Advanced Placement Examination.”

Cuccinelli noted, “Because the Advanced Placement Examination test is the required end-of-course examination, it cannot reasonably be viewed as a service or program for which a fee may be levied.”

My Hgh School Growing up gave you a final exam in addition to the AP. This gets around the required fee. Pretty easy way to get around this.