Anonymous
Post 09/01/2025 13:41     Subject: MCPS not paying for APs this year?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My senior heard a rumor at school that MCPS won't be paying for AP/IB exams this year? She said before, they would always know before school begins but this year they don't. She said they'll find out at the end of the month.

Has anyone heard anything?


I'm not sure when they announce the decision, but it's ridiculous that the College Board encourages school systems to pay for tests while College Board earns over a billions dollars in revenue each year.

Either way, the students will probably hear close to registration.


The College Board isn't responsible for this. It is part of the MD Blueprint...
Anonymous
Post 09/01/2025 12:34     Subject: Re:MCPS not paying for APs this year?
What's the drop dead date for test enrollment? By the time seniors take AP exams, most have decided on a college and can look up whether that school will give any credit for certain APs. If there is no benefit to taking the test, they will either no-show for it and pay the $42 cancellation fee, or show up and do just enough work to get a 1 or 2. That's a waste of money.
Anonymous
Post 09/01/2025 12:20     Subject: MCPS not paying for APs this year?
Anonymous wrote:There are two separable issues here. One is whether MCPS should pay (either for all or for those with needs). The other is whether they should automatically enroll kids the way they have the last couple of years.

At BTSN, one of the teachers pointed out that the average score had declined because there are kids who were automatically enrolled and then told they would face a fee if they didn't follow through and take the test. So there were kids showing up who had no interest in taking the test. (I think you could decline in the fall, but as the test approached students faced a penalty for not taking it?)

I don't care about the average test scores (though I suppose principals might) but it's a waste of money to pay for kids who have no interest in taking the test and won't take it seriously.



The problem is that College Board doesn't encourage taking the class but nope-ing out of the final exam. It's College Board, not MCPS Equity Metrics Gaming Board. College Board wants test commitments by Nov 2 or charges a $42 fee.


Anonymous
Post 09/01/2025 12:15     Subject: MCPS not paying for APs this year?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My senior heard a rumor at school that MCPS won't be paying for AP/IB exams this year? She said before, they would always know before school begins but this year they don't. She said they'll find out at the end of the month.

Has anyone heard anything?


I'm not sure when they announce the decision, but it's ridiculous that the College Board encourages school systems to pay for tests while College Board earns over a billions dollars in revenue each year.

Either way, the students will probably hear close to registration.


Paying for tests is 25% of CB's revenue.

https://www.totalregistration.net/AP-Exam-Registration-Service/Follow-The-Money-History-of-College-Board-Finances.php
Anonymous
Post 09/01/2025 10:12     Subject: MCPS not paying for APs this year?
Anonymous wrote:There are two separable issues here. One is whether MCPS should pay (either for all or for those with needs). The other is whether they should automatically enroll kids the way they have the last couple of years.

At BTSN, one of the teachers pointed out that the average score had declined because there are kids who were automatically enrolled and then told they would face a fee if they didn't follow through and take the test. So there were kids showing up who had no interest in taking the test. (I think you could decline in the fall, but as the test approached students faced a penalty for not taking it?)

I don't care about the average test scores (though I suppose principals might) but it's a waste of money to pay for kids who have no interest in taking the test and won't take it seriously.



It's a MD Blueprint requirement that MCPS pay for the exam for all students enrolled in the course. That's what they're hoping to change.
Anonymous
Post 09/01/2025 10:10     Subject: MCPS not paying for APs this year?
Anonymous wrote:How much is each exam test fee we are talking about here?


Ranging from $99 to $150+, and FARM students should qualify for a reduced rate but they need to apply (not sure how complicated that process is), which could create potential inequities to students who are either out of knowledge of this benefit, or just have no motivation to go through the process.

Anonymous
Post 09/01/2025 10:07     Subject: MCPS not paying for APs this year?
Anonymous wrote:How much is each exam test fee we are talking about here?


$99 each for AP - https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/exam-administration-ordering-scores/ordering-fees/exam-fees
Anonymous
Post 09/01/2025 10:00     Subject: MCPS not paying for APs this year?
How much is each exam test fee we are talking about here?
Anonymous
Post 09/01/2025 09:55     Subject: MCPS not paying for APs this year?
There are two separable issues here. One is whether MCPS should pay (either for all or for those with needs). The other is whether they should automatically enroll kids the way they have the last couple of years.

At BTSN, one of the teachers pointed out that the average score had declined because there are kids who were automatically enrolled and then told they would face a fee if they didn't follow through and take the test. So there were kids showing up who had no interest in taking the test. (I think you could decline in the fall, but as the test approached students faced a penalty for not taking it?)

I don't care about the average test scores (though I suppose principals might) but it's a waste of money to pay for kids who have no interest in taking the test and won't take it seriously.

Anonymous
Post 09/01/2025 07:46     Subject: MCPS not paying for APs this year?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So if parents can't pay for a test or two, how can they afford college tuition?


Some kids don’t go to college, community college, aid.


Why are they taking AP tests then?
Anonymous
Post 08/31/2025 22:29     Subject: MCPS not paying for APs this year?
Anonymous wrote:So if parents can't pay for a test or two, how can they afford college tuition?


Some kids don’t go to college, community college, aid.
Anonymous
Post 08/31/2025 20:35     Subject: MCPS not paying for APs this year?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:When did they START paying for the test. ,Was that an extra covid funding thing?


2023 was the first year they paid for the tests for all.


MCPS is planning to use IB and AP to populate its new regional HS programming. How is that going to work when you have to pay a lot of money in order to take the culminating exam for each course?



They are already paying for the AP/IB exams. They are advocating getting some relief from this by only paying for the at need students. It was a Blueprint recommendation.
Anonymous
Post 08/31/2025 20:32     Subject: MCPS not paying for APs this year?
So if parents can't pay for a test or two, how can they afford college tuition?
Anonymous
Post 08/31/2025 20:25     Subject: MCPS not paying for APs this year?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:When did they START paying for the test. ,Was that an extra covid funding thing?


2023 was the first year they paid for the tests for all.


MCPS is planning to use IB and AP to populate its new regional HS programming. How is that going to work when you have to pay a lot of money in order to take the culminating exam for each course?
Anonymous
Post 08/31/2025 18:07     Subject: MCPS not paying for APs this year?
I would rather MCPS paid for textbooks that could be reused by all over many years rather than recurring test fees.