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Board debates whether district should pay AP exam fees; administration favors targeted support and dual enrollment
Summary
Board members discussed whether Perkiomen Valley SD should assume the cost of Advanced Placement exams (estimated $133,000 if the district paid for all), with administration not recommending universal coverage and proposing targeted support, expanded dual‑enrollment and PSAT participation options.
Perkiomen Valley SD board members on Oct. 10 debated whether the district should pay Advanced Placement (AP) exam fees after administrators presented data on AP enrollment, exam uptake and alternatives including dual enrollment.
Administrators told the committee that if the district paid for every AP exam taken last year the total cost would have been about $133,000. Dr. Sachs, a high‑school administrator, said most students take exams and noted increases in participation and scores; the administration reported 27 opt‑outs reported in one dataset. "Most of them take the exams," an administrator said of students enrolled in AP courses; "if we paid for all the tests" the cost would be about $133,000, the administration reported.
Board members split in opinion. Board member Mr. Saylor said, given budget constraints and the district being over Act 1, he opposed adding $133,000 to pay for select students’ exams. Other board members argued paying at least one test fee per student could promote access and encourage students to take AP coursework. An administrator clarified the district is not recommending paying for all AP tests at this time.
Administrators outlined measures already in place to reduce student costs: College Board fee reductions for qualifying students (which can reduce the per‑exam district cost to about $25 after support), payment plans, and occasional district subsidies for students who cannot pay. A staff member said the district has not historically turned away students who cannot pay; in some cases tests were subsidized.
The committee broadened the conversation to dual enrollment, which administrators described as a lower‑cost avenue for college credit. Administrators said credits earned through community college dual‑enrollment (for example, Montgomery County Community College or regionally approved providers) transfer as transcripted college credit and can reduce future tuition costs, in contrast with AP exam acceptance that varies by college. The district noted local partnerships (MCCC, Westchester, Ursinus and North Montco were discussed) and said advertising and clearer communication to students and families about dual‑enrollment and available subsidies needs improvement.
Administrators also flagged PSAT participation: the district is considering encouraging all 10th graders to take the PSAT (an $18 test per student) as a diagnostic and National Merit qualifier; the estimated cost for roughly 400 tenth‑grade students would be $7,000–$8,000.
No formal resolution was adopted; administration said it is not recommending district payment for all AP exams and suggested further board discussion if members want this as an agenda item.
