To increase access to Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) tests for low-income students, the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) has applied for and received a federal grant to pay for the AP test fees of qualified students.

To determine student eligibility, any of the following criteria may be used:

• The student is eligible for or receiving free or reduced price lunch;
• The student’s family receives assistance under Part A of Title IV of the Social Security Act;
• The student is eligible to receive medical assistance under the Federal Medicaid program;
• The student is a member of a family whose taxable income for the preceding year did not exceed 150% of the poverty level as established by the U.S. Census Bureau.

To have AP test fees paid for by the grant, the following actions must be taken:

• Review and identify all eligible students for free tests;
• Fill in the “Option 1” oval on qualifying students’ AP Exam answer sheets;
• In the Remittance section of the AP Shipping & Remittance form, enter the total number of exams (not students) that qualify for the fee reduction;
• AP Coordinators in Michigan will not collect AP Exam fees from students qualifying for a free exam.