GHS looking at changing AP fees

Thursday, June 10, 2010

GREENCASTLE -- Changes are happening in Greencastle High School's Advanced Placement program.

On Wednesday, guidance counselor Shannon Fritz presented the Greencastle Community School Corp. Board of Trustees with several possible scenarios for how fees are charged for AP testing.

Currently, the state pays for all students in math and science courses to take AP exams. Any tests taken by students who receive free or reduced lunches are also fully paid for.

Dual credit agreements exist between GHS and Ivy Tech for AP English language, biology and U.S. history courses. AP exams are scored on a 1-5 scale, and any score of 3 or higher is a guaranteed elective credit at Indiana public universities.

The school system has been paying for students to take the exams, but some of the proposed changes would mean parents could have to foot the bills going forward.

The exams cost $78 each. Some suggestions given to the board by Fritz and GHS principal Randy Corn were to reimburse any students who scored a 3 or higher on the exams or giving students who received a score of 3 or higher an "AP Scholarship" in the amount of $75.

Fritz listened to the board's comments and concerns, and said she would come back to the July meeting with proposals.

"I'd like to have something voted on and approved by the August meeting," she said. "In late August, we're planning an open house for parents to explain deadlines and policies for the year."

In 2010, GHS offered five AP courses -- biology, calculus, English literature, U.S. history and studio art. In the coming school year three additional courses -- English language, government and Latin -- will also be offered.

To graduate with an Academic Honors Diploma, students must either take two AP courses with corresponding exams, earn six transferrable dual credits or take one AP course with corresponding exam and earn three transferrable dual credits.

Greencastle High School was recently commended by the Indiana Department of Education for improvement in its AP scores. Since 2006, the number of GHS students that received a 3 or higher on AP exams has risen 18 percent.

"We're very proud of our students and our teachers," said Superintendent Bob Green.

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  • @npgrad2008 - reread the first paragraph of the article: Currently, the state pays for all students in math and science courses to take AP exams. Any tests taken by students who receive free or reduced lunches are also fully paid for.

    -- Posted by sneakers on Thu, Jun 10, 2010, at 8:13 AM
  • would someone please tell me why this state makes their students pay for everything...book fees, now possibly AP fees. Our school systems in Putnam County are already behind a lot of other school systems when it comes to academics, so let's put them even further behind. I'm pretty sure that a lot of students will not take these classes if you have to pay for them. I seriously don't undertstand how bigger school districts with more students in other states are able to pay for everything and this states education is going down the tube.

    Please someone enlighten me as to why when my child enters school I will have to pay for a book fee-if I wanted to pay for books I would home school or send my child to private school. Last time I checked this is still public school. It is a joke and a disgrace. At least when you pay for books in college you get some money back at the end of the year buy selling them. We never had to pay for books, they were issued at the beginning of the year, we were to cover them, if at the end of the year there were any torn pages, pen marks, etc...we had to pay a fine.

    -- Posted by girlmd on Thu, Jun 10, 2010, at 8:44 AM
  • just fyi--in my high school we had to pay to take the AP exams ourselves. It was further motivation to study hard. We never thought about why we had to pay, we just knew it was much cheaper than having to take the class in college and pay the $$$ tuition fee per hour. So $78 is a steal. (I do admit that the book fees were new to me when we moved to IN, however).

    -- Posted by Ready2Go on Thu, Jun 10, 2010, at 9:49 AM
  • Come on, people! Schools are having a hard time with their finances. They are trying to cut expenses where they can. Let's quit calling them "public" schools. They are government schools and teachers and administrators work for the government. The federal government is broke, and many state governments are broke. Indiana is barely in the black, thanks to governor Daniels. We are fast becoming too dependant on government for everything. Wake up, people!

    -- Posted by not gullible on Thu, Jun 10, 2010, at 11:33 AM
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