School Laws of Oklahoma

Chapter 8 - Instruction
Article IX: Advanced Placement Incentive Program

Section 919.1. Establishment of Rules. (70 O.S. § 1210.701)

A. The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules to establish the Oklahoma Advanced Placement Incentive Program, to be administered by the State Department of Education. The purpose of the program is to establish, organize, and administer a program designed to improve the course offerings available to high school students throughout the state and to prepare students for admission to and success in a postsecondary educational environment. The Oklahoma Advanced Placement Incentive Program shall consist of the following components:

1. Financial assistance to public school teachers and schools to build and maintain successful Advanced Placement Programs; and

2. Test fee assistance to public school students who are in financial need or who take more than one advanced placement test in one (1) year.

B. On or before October 1 of each year, the State Department of Education shall issue to the Governor and members of the Senate and House of Representatives Education Committees a report on the Advanced Placement Incentive Program for the previous school year which shall include, but is not limited to:

1. The number of students taking an advanced placement exam and the number of exams taken;

2. The number of exams that receive a score of three or better;

3. The number of school sites which have received funding and the amount of awards, by type of award;

4. The number of school sites offering advanced placement courses and the number of school sites with students taking an advanced placement exam;

5. The number of students who receive assistance with the test fee and the average amount of assistance; and

6. An evaluation of the cost versus the benefits of this program.

Section 919.2. Purpose.  (70 O.S. § 1210.702)

For purposes of the Oklahoma Advanced Placement Incentive Program:

1. “Advanced placement course” means a high school level preparatory course for a college advanced placement test that incorporates all topics specified by the College Board and the Educational Testing Service on its standard syllabus for a given subject area and is approved by the College Board;

2. “Preadvanced placement course” means a middle school, junior high school, or high school level course that specifically prepares students to enroll and participate in an advanced placement course;

3. “Advanced placement vertical team” means a group of middle school or junior high school and high school educators in a given discipline who work cooperatively to develop and implement a vertically aligned program aimed at helping students acquire the academic skills necessary for success in the advanced placement program;

4. “Advanced placement test” means the advanced placement test administered by the College Board and Educational Testing Service;

5. “International Baccalaureate course” means a high school level preparatory course for an International Baccalaureate examination that incorporates each topic specified by the International Baccalaureate Organization on its standard syllabus for a particular subject area;

6. “International Baccalaureate examination” means the International Baccalaureate examination administered by the International Baccalaureate Organization;

7. “College Board” means the College Board and Educational Testing Service;

8. “Department” means the State Department of Education; and

9. “Program” means the Oklahoma Advanced Placement Incentive Program.

Section 919.3. Awarding of Grants.  (70 O.S. § 1210.703)

A. Contingent upon the provision of appropriated funds designated for the Oklahoma Advanced Placement Incentive Program, the State Board of Education is hereby authorized to award schools:

1. A one-time equipment and/or instructional materials grant for the purpose of providing an advanced placement course, based on criteria established by the Department. Schools which receive the grants shall:

a. offer the advanced placement courses beginning the school year following receipt of the grant,

b. provide the College Board training within one (1) year of the grant award, including at least a one-week summer institute. Teachers shall be encouraged to attend annual follow-up training, and

c. make available advanced placement examinations to all students taking the course for which a grant has been awarded;

2. Additional grants to school sites demonstrating successful implementation, as defined by the State Board of Education, of the courses for which the first grants were awarded. Schools may qualify for additional grants a minimum of four (4) years after receiving a grant award;

3. Subsidized training for advanced placement courses, preadvanced placement courses, or International Baccalaureate courses in a form, manner and time prescribed by the Department;

4. One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) for each score of three or better on an advanced placement test or four or better on an International Baccalaureate examination; provided, these funds shall be used for the purpose of Advanced Placement Program development;

5. For those students who demonstrate financial need as defined by the College Board or the International Baccalaureate Organization, a share of the advanced placement or International Baccalaureate test fee;

6. For those students who take more than one advanced placement or International Baccalaureate test in one (1) year, a share of the advanced placement test or International Baccalaureate fee in a manner prescribed by the Board; and

7. Grants for the purpose of developing an advanced placement vertical team based on criteria established by the Board.

B. Upon completion of the test, the State Department of Education shall obtain from the College Board and the International Baccalaureate Organization a list of students in Oklahoma who scored a three or higher on the advanced placement test or a four or higher on the International Baccalaureate test. Financial incentives for schools provided in this section shall be awarded at the beginning of the next school year following the school year in which the test was taken.

C. Any new expenditure authorized pursuant to Section 1210.7401 et seq. of this title shall be contingent upon the availability of funds.

Section 919.4. Participation in National Assessment of Educational Progress.  (70 O.S. § 1210.513)

A. In order to assist in the nation’s evaluation of the condition and progress of education, and in order to provide comparative interstate information on student performance, beginning July 1, 1997, the State Board of Education shall ensure the participation of the Oklahoma public school system in the National Assessment of Educational Progress. The results of this assessment shall be included as a separate result in annual reports on the Oklahoma State Testing Program.

B. The State Department of Education shall utilize the services of at least one qualified independent entity to conduct an evaluation of the state core curriculum standards at every grade level or, in high school for every subject, in which a criterion-referenced test is administered, and shall report the results to the Legislature by February 1, 2000.

Section 919.5. (Omitted)

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