Section 270.30  Program Specifications

Grant funds provided under this Part shall be used only in connection with Advanced Placement (AP) courses identified as such by the College Board (at http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/ public/courses/descriptions/index.htm) or in connection with initiatives in any of Grades 6 through 11 that are designed specifically to prepare students in those grades to participate successfully in AP courses.  Grant funds shall be expended only to serve students and staff in schools where at least 40 percent of the students are classified as "low-income".

a)         Allowable activities shall include, but need not be limited to, curriculum development, staff training, and the purchase of materials related to AP courses or, in Grades 6-11, initiatives and coursework designed to prepare students for enrollment and success in AP courses ("preparatory programs").

b)         At least 20 percent of the funding provided for each program under this Part shall be used to defray the cost of training for teachers, counselors, and principals that is sponsored by the College Board (see http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/ Pageflows/InstitutesAndWorkshops/InstitutesAndWorkshopsController.jtp).  Costs for other professional development activities that correspond to the purposes stated in Section 15 of the Act [105 ILCS 302/15] shall be allowable beyond the 20 percent threshold.  Training costs may include stipends for those participating and for substitute teachers.

c)         Some portion of the funding provided for each proposed program under this Part shall be devoted to strategies and activities specifically designed to increase the participation of low-income students in AP courses or to promote participation by low-income students in preparatory programs, such as:

1)         development and dissemination of promotional materials or other outreach to students and their families;

2)         counseling, enrichment, tutoring, or other assistance for students that will prepare them to succeed in these courses and on the culminating examinations; and

3)         administering to students the Pre-Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) (see CollegeBoard.com).

d)         Grant funds shall not be used to pay for the services of teachers to teach Advanced Placement courses or preparatory courses.

e)         Grant funds shall not be used to supplant other efforts currently funded with local, State, or federal resources.