The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) released welcome news for AP teachers and students in mid-August that the federal government would help to subsidize Advanced Placement (AP) test costs (and International Baccalaureate fees, too) in 38 states, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands in order to promote college- and career-readiness for historically underserved student populations. Most of the funding will allow for low-income students to take the exams, which regularly cost $91, although exam fees are already reduced by $29 dollars via the College Board for low-income test-takers, bringing the total cost per exam to $62 for socioeconomically-disadvantaged students. The funds from the federal grant will cover all but $12 of the costs per exam, the remaining balance of which states can cover with their own funds or require as a financial commitment from students. The DOE views the awarding of the grants as a method for removing barriers between low-income students and AP access, which can actually prepare them for college and grant them credit that will save them even more money in the long-term on college costs. The number of students subsidized by the federal funding increased by seven percent between the 2014 and the 2015 school years, which means about 65,000 additional students were able to take AP exams. CA, IL, TX, and NY were the largest recipients of the grant money, amounts which were determined by expected numbers of low-income students taking the exams. This particular grant program demonstrates a continuing vested interest from the DOE in expanding college readiness and access to rigorous curriculum for all students, especially minority and low-income students.