kansasadvancedplacementcoursework

KANSAS ADVANCED PLACEMENT
INCENTIVE PROGRAM

The Kansas State Department of Education is proposing an Advanced Placement Incentive Program
project for school districts in the state of Kansas whose high schools have a free and reduced
percentage greater than 40% and/or represent under served areas. This project would provide
professional development opportunities for current and new advanced placement instructors. In
addition, subgrants will be awarded to qualified districts or consortiums of districts who wish to begin
implementing AP within their school(s). Subgrants would also be available for districts who wish to
access online AP courses or develop their own online AP course.

The following goal and objectives will be achieved through this project.

Goal: Expand AP coursework availability in mathematics, sciences, English, Japanese, and Chinese to
high schools in Kansas with large percentages of low-income students.

Objective 1
Increase the number of school districts providing AP coursework through a subgrant process each year
of the project as measured by subgrant receipt list.
Objective 2
Improve KSDE’s infrastructure for initiating a statewide AP program by hiring an AP coordinator,
establishing an AP leadership committee, and implementing a statewide marketing and recruitment
campaign as measured by performance measures established in this proposal.
Objective 3
Increase the number of high schools utilizing AP courses that are College Board Ledger compliant by
10% each year of the project as measured by the College Board Ledger roster. (Gap 3)Objective 4
Increase the number of students participating in and receiving a score of three or better on identified
subject areas AP examinations each year of the project by 6% as demonstrated by the AP College
Board report.
Objective 5
Improve AP instructor knowledge through intensive professional development opportunities as
measured by course completion records and teacher knowledge surveys.
Objective 6
Increase business and community organization involvement in advancing AP coursework throughout
Kansas as measured by partnership agreements, marketing campaign strategies, and content delivery.
Objective 7
Increase by 5% the number of feeder schools each year of the project utilizing the vertical team or
Springboard programming with lower classmen as measured by team completion and implementation
records.

The following outcomes will be accomplished through this project:

Overall Outcomes
•Increased awareness of the AP project and benefits among qualifying high schools and statewide
•Increased number of AP courses successfully completing College Board Course Audit Ledger protocols
•Partnerships are established with business and community organizations to increase AP awareness,
online course offerings, professional development opportunities, and improve AP course content
standards
•Ensure successful development and completion of critical language AP courses in Chinese and
Japanese for online delivery for students.

Professional Development Outcomes
•100 teachers will participate in College Board summer institutes, Springboard, Vertical Team Trainings,
or AP workshops during the summers of 2009, 2010, 2011
•5 teachers will receive scholarships to attend AP rater trainings for Chinese and Japanese
•20 teachers will receive funding toward attendance at the Midwestern Regional AP forum
•Up to 15 subgrants will be expended to qualifying districts or consortia of districts to develop and
implement an AP program at their district(s), provide online course access for low-income students, or
provide professional development opportunities to teachers
•Increased numbers of teachers implementing AP courses within their districts for core academic areas
•Increase the likelihood districts will have a successful team that develops a continuum of skill building
from one grade level to the next

Student Outcomes
•Increased access to AP courses in mathematics, sciences, English, Chinese, and Japanese critical
languages
•Increased numbers of students scoring a 3 or better on AP examinations
•Increased opportunities for feeder school students to implement Vertical Team or Springboard
programming
•Increased access to sophomores in qualifying school districts with PSAT cost deferment scholarships

Sub Grants

Sub grants for local education agencies will provide the funding for the establishment or
expansion of advanced placement course offerings which may include ones delivered
traditionally, on-line or through distance education.

Subgrants will require local education agencies to develop a plan for aligning AP courses
with ongoing school improvement efforts and actively engaging key stakeholders including teachers,
administrators, parents, board members and students in the development process. Eligible applicants
will include any Kansas accredited private or public local education agency serving Juniors and Seniors
in high school. Applications will be accepted from an individual school district or as a member of a
consortium application with other eligible school districts (those whose high school’s free and reduced
lunch count exceeds 40%). Sub-grants may also be utilized by local educational agencies who wish to
develop Pre-AP or AP courses within their district (or consortium of districts) if no Pre-AP or AP courses
have been previously available within their district or service area. The sub-grant process will be on a
competitive basis and approximately $225,000 ($15,000 maximum for individual schools or up to
$50,000 for consortia applicants) has been allocated in project funding each year to provide districts
with funding to expand their AP programs.

Eligible activities for sub-grants include teacher training, the purchase of materials needed to implement
Pre-AP or AP classes, either traditionally, online or via distance-education technologies. Other eligible
activities include public information campaigns designed to increase awareness of the AP incentive
program for low-income students, including either reduced or cost-free programming. Activities
involving Junior High students in Pre-AP courses will be given priority if the application content fully
addresses solid Pre-AP programming.

Grantees are required to provide a 25% match for the amount of the award. All funds must be
expended by September 30th, 2009.

APPLICATIONS MUST BE POSTMARKED OR DELIVERED NO
LATER THAN MARCH 1, 2009

RETURN AN ORIGINAL AND FIVE (5) COPIES TO:

Kent Reed
Kansas State Department of Education
120 SE 10th Avenue
Topeka, Kansas 66612-1182

Kansas Advanced Placement Project
Sub Grant Application

Applicant (Legal name of district)

USD Number

Superintendent Name

Authorized Signature

Name of Contact for AP Courses

Telephone Number

Address, City, Zip (if different than above)

Fax Number

E-mail address

Project Review and Approval (To be completed by State Educational Agency)

Project Number

Approval Date

Total Allocation

Approved Amount

Signature SEA Official

Part I - Program Overview - 10 points
Please provide a one-page description of the proposed grant program which will include the following:

•The number of low-income students seeking advanced placement examination
reimbursement.
•Each identified low-income student's name or identification number.
•A description of the current AP courses offered through the district.
•A description of additional support provided to AP students.
•A description of the staff to be involved in the delivery of AP courses.

For each student identified as low-income, please provide one of the following options as documentation
in the sub grant Appendix section for verification of low-income status by SEA.

1)        A signed statement from the individual's parent or legal guardian;
2)        Verification from the school that the student is eligible for free or reduced lunch program or other
government sources;
3)        A signed financial aid application; or
4)        A signed United states income tax return.

Part II - Program Information - 80 points

Needs Assessment (20 points) - Provide information for each school within the district participating in
the AP course program. Provide data on results of State assessments, number/percent of students not
meeting state/local indicators, local assessment results and other data regarding the AP performance of
students in each school. Provide a detailed list of AP Courses offered and those the district would like to
offer. Give relevant barriers the district faces as to why those courses are not being offered at this time
(ie: no qualified instructor, lack of interest by staff).
Instructional Component & Professional Development - ( 20 points) - Describe how the local educational
agency will:
•provide instruction in AP courses to low-income students
•promote and encourage students to take AP courses
•coordinate the grant activities and strategies outlined in the school improvement plan with AP courses
Describe the past professional development activities for AP instructors and other staff on the teaching
of Advanced Placement Courses. Include a timeline of the professional development activities scheduled
for current or future AP instructors and staff.

Coordination - (20 points) - a) Describe how the applicant will ensure that funds available through the
Subgrant will effectively coordinate, and, where appropriate, integrate with funds under this program with
existing activities in the areas of Advanced Placement Course Instruction, professional development,
program improvement, addition of other AP courses, parental involvement, technical assistance and
other activities that can help meet the purposes of this grant. b) Describe how the applicant will form a
partnership with local community colleges or institutes of higher education for collaboration between high
school AP course instructors and college level personnel teaching basic level courses in the areas of
mathematics, science and language arts.
Accountability/Evaluation/Impact (20 points) - The State Department of Education places a priority on
schools that set high expectations of increasing student performance as a result of receiving grant
funds. Applicants are expected to establish a fast pace movement of the schools and students toward
the "Standard of Excellence." Describe the expected impact of the program, such as:

•School(s) and students achievement goals.
  Student growth based on the optional performance assessment.
•Norm Reference Test results
•Overall percent of growth based on state assessments.
•Expected growth on other locally developed indicators.
•Describe evaluation criteria used to demonstrate program effectiveness.

Part III - Budget - 10 points

Provide a written explanation of each proposed expenditure, including match funds.

Budget Categories                        Amount Requested (Use Whole Dollars)
1. Personnel
2. Fringe Benefits
3. Travel
4. Equipment
5. Supplies
6. Contractual
7. Construction
8. Other
9. Training Stipends
10. Total Costs
11. Required Match (25%)

**Total student enrollment (headcount) in the district for 2008-2009 school year based
on September 21, 2008 figures:

                                         K-12                                9-12

** Total number of district students eligible for free and reduced lunch program this
school year (2008-2009);

                                         K-12                                9-12

** Total number of district students eligible for free and reduced lunch program last
school year (2007-2008):
                                         K-12                                9-12

**Consortium applicants should report the information requested as the total population and total eligible
of students from only participating districts.

Statement confirming the priority outcome that the USD is underserved relative to Advanced Placement
programming:

              APPLICATIONS MUST BE POSTMARKED OR DELIVERED NO
                                      LATER THAN MARCH 1, 2009

                        RETURN AN ORIGINAL AND FIVE (5) COPIES TO:

                              Kent Reed
                              Kansas State Department of Education
                              120 SE 10th Avenue
                              Topeka, Kansas 66612-1182