Joliet High School is now requiring students who are enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP) classes to pay $89 per AP test. Historically, the district has paid for these exams, but chose to begin requiring students to pay out-of-pocket during the 23/24 school year. As a result of poor administrative oversight, however, a majority of students did not pay and the district made moves to reimburse some of the families who did.
Superintendent Clark Begger cites the history of poor performances by Joliet students on the AP tests. He feels that requiring students to pay gives them "skin in the game" and incentivizes them to perform better on the tests.
The Superintendent's focus on what the students are doing wrong, and seeming lack of regard for what the district's role is in the issue, seems to contradict Joliet's core purpose of educating each child to be successful.
Joliet students are not adequately prepared for their AP exams. In order to score well on an AP test, it takes a significant, concerted effort on the part of the school to provide appropriate materials to the teacher, the teacher to teach those relevant materials, and the student to learn and study the material.
Additionally, administrative troubles appear to be arising again this year. Parents received the letter last week informing them they would be responsible for testing fees, if their child chooses to take the test(s), and that payment must be received by September 27. The letter also states that if parents believe the cost may be a financial burden, they can contact Principal Hernandez for assistance options.
The tight payment deadline given by the school does not match that required by College Board, the providers of the AP tests. The deadline to register for exams is November 15, 2024, and the deadline for the school to pay College Board is June 15, 2025.
This is not the only difference in College Board policies and Joliet schools communication to the parents. The costs of the tests are $99 per exam, with schools receiving a $9 discount. That would obligate the parent, or student, to $90 per exam, unless the school is intending to provide $1 funding for each test.
A student can receive a fee reduction directly from College Board, if they are eligible, amounting to $37 per exam for an exam cost of $53, but this is not mentioned in the letter. The requirements for requesting assistance from College Board can be found here. For a student to receive financial assistance with the AP tests in Joliet, all they have to do is reach out to Mrs. Hernandez, say it is a burden and the request will be processed. Joliet does not have a threshold for when families receive financial assistance, nor is there paperwork to fill out. It is also not clear if the district is asking College Board for a discount for eligible students.
According to College Board, "AP gives students the chance to tackle college-level work while they're still in high school and earn college credit and placement." With college tuition costs out of reach for many students, AP testing and the resulting credits can help lower a student's financial and time burden while attending college.
Joliet does receive grant money from the state that could be used for this purpose. The Montana Advanced Opportunities Act was most recently amended in 2023 by the 68th Legislature. It is an "act revising laws related to advanced opportunity programs." Its intention is to expand personalized learning opportunities for students to accelerate their career and college readiness and reduce out-of-pocket costs for families."
Districts that participate in the program are required to spend 75% of the money they receive from this grant to address pupils' out-of-pocket costs. For this school year, that amounts to $9,880.94 for the high school. There is a separate allocation for the elementary and the same distribution rules apply.
During the 23/24 school year, Joliet school paid College Board $4,116 for AP Exams. That full amount was coded to the Montana Advanced Opportunity Aid fund. When asked what would be reported to the state, District Clerk Felicia Smith stated, "The total amount that would be reported for AP testing would be $2,149, which is the amount of the grant money used after student payments." Yet, the statement of expenditure that was reviewed and approved at the August Board meeting still has the full $4,116 coded for the grant. If this is an indication that all exam fees are being refunded, they have not yet been received by the families.
Every year, grantees are required to file the Montana Advanced Opportunities Grant Annual Report. It is considered a legal document that requires Board approval. It was filed and signed by Board Chair Dawn Blain on January 4, 2024; however, there is no available documentation of this report receiving Board level approval prior to being filed.
One of the examples Joliet used signifying progress made toward one of the measurable objectives from the District's Advanced Opportunity Plan is 45 AP exam enrollments. There is no mention of requesting students to pay for those exams.
According to Governor Gianforte, “The Advanced Opportunities Act is a win for students, families, and educators. With it, we will open the doors to greater opportunity for our kids, regardless of the next path they choose."
Joliet's administrative stumbles may be putting its access to this grant program at risk, but for now, Joliet students will have to pay up, ask for help or miss out.
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