DonorsChoose.org has received a $5 million Google Global Impact Award.
The online charity will use the funding to form a strategic partnership with College Board that aims to inspire females and underrepresented minorities to excel in advanced math and science courses. The goal of the partnership, officially named the AP STEM Access program, is to jump start up to 500 new AP courses in STEM subjects at U.S. high schools where large populations of females or minorities are currently underrepresented.
As part of AP STEM Access, DonorsChoose.org will facilitate scholarships for educators to attend professional development courses to prepare them to teach AP courses. Additionally, DonorsChoose.org will provide seed money for the classroom resources and educational materials needed to launch the new AP classes. Qualifying teachers will also receive a $100 gift card to reinvest into their classroom for each student who earns a 3, 4 or 5 on an AP exam in a STEM course.
College Board has invited more than 800 U.S. public high schools to participate in the AP STEM Access program. To qualify, schools must have a large population of underrepresented students with high AP potential as indicated by their PSAT/NMSQT scores. Additionally, the school must serve a community with a median family income that is less than $100,000 and/or more than 40 percent of students receive free or reduced lunch. For more information about school eligibility and program timing, including a full list of qualifying schools, visit collegeboard.org/apstem.
