Governor Timothy M. Kaine joined the Virginia Advanced Study Strategies Wednesday to announce the selection of 14 schools to participate in the first cycle of five-year Advance Placement Project grants designed to increase students’ enrollment and scores in Advanced Placement classes in mathematics, science and English.

“Virginia is committed to accountability in education, and these grants will help us continue to move beyond competence to excellence,” says Kaine. “AP classes have a history of showing results, and increasing enrollment and scores is a primary goal.”

Kaine was joined by private and public partners to recognize the 14 schools, whose participation will allow them to receive teacher training, financial incentives, new equipment and materials, and ongoing support services from VASS’s math, science, and English specialists.

The 2008-2009 VASS Advanced Placement Project grant recipients are:

- Amelia County High School

- Richmond Community High School, Richmond City Public Schools

- Deep Run High School, Henrico County Public Schools

- Franklin County High School

- Halifax County High School

- Jefferson Forest High School, Bedford County Public Schools

- Liberty High School, Bedford County Public Schools

- Marion Senior High School, Smyth County Public Schools

- Martinsville High School, Martinsville City Public Schools

- Nottoway County High School

- Prince Edward County High School

- Staunton River High School, Bedford County Public Schools

- Thomas Jefferson High School, Richmond City Public Schools

- Varina High School, Henrico County Public Schools

Project schools must commit to the initiative for five years. Schools must also demonstrate a willingness to overcome obstacles to increasing AP participation and performance by adding AP classes, altering AP access policies, and making adjustments to school calendars, if needed, to support the AP program.

Paul C. Nichols, III, President of VASS, says, “We will continue to add schools next year as long as we have funding. A top priority for me and our Board is to develop more business partnerships to sustain our vision of growth.”

The Advanced Placement Program, administered by The College Board, offers students the opportunity to experience college-level work and to earn college credit or placement during high school. The shared goal of VASS and the College Board is to provide Virginia’s students with the skills and knowledge needed to compete in the 21st Century global economy.

Virginia is one of seven states to receive funding from the National Math and Science Initiative to assist in training and incentive programs for AP and pre-AP courses.