District/School Pricing FAQ

Below are answers to common questions related to the pricing structure for the digital SAT Suite of Assessments.

FAQ

How is my district's (or school's) federal estimated child poverty rate percentage determined?

College Board uses the most recent federal estimated child poverty rate percentage data. We update our systems on an annual basis and before the test ordering site opens. The poverty rate percentage will be capped at 45% and rounded up to the next whole percentage point.

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Why is College Board using the federal estimated child poverty rate percentage instead of free and reduced price lunch (FRLP) eligibility to determine the amount of low-income student support to provide?

Districts and schools that administer the SAT Suite of Assessments have raised concerns about their ability to identify students for fee waivers and benefits based on FRLP eligibility for several years. Recent federal and state policy changes have also made it more challenging to know which students are eligible. The federal estimated child poverty rate percentage is updated annually, does not require districts or schools to provide any validation or documentation, and is used to allocate funds for other federal and state programs.

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Does this mean AP is changing how it provides fee reductions for AP Exams?

No. For 2023–24, districts and schools will continue to use the same process to select students for AP Exam fee reductions.

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Is my school’s (district’s) federal estimated child poverty rate percentage the same as our FRLP percentage?

Not necessarily. The data used to determine each of the indicators is different so they may not be the same.

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Where can I find my school's (district's) federal estimated child poverty rate percentage?

For more information about SAIPE, see census.gov. Please note that this government website will be updated periodically.

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Will 11th-grade students taking PSAT/NMSQT still be eligible for fee waivers?

Low-income support is being extended to all assessments and grade levels. Schools administering PSAT/NMSQT will receive a price adjustment that is twice their poverty rate percentage. Schools in states where the state pays for at least one of the SAT Suite assessments (like spring School Day) will also be eligible for multi-assessment price adjustments.

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Will students taking SAT School Day still be eligible for fee reductions?

Low-income support is being extended to all assessments and grade levels. Schools administering SAT School Day will receive a price adjustment that is twice their poverty rate percentage. Schools in states where the state pays for at least one of the SAT Suite assessments (like PSAT/NMSQT) will also be eligible for multi-assessment price adjustments.

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Why isn't the cost of the assessments decreasing? Digital testing should save College Board money since you don't have to print and ship tests anymore.

We're taking this transitional year to evaluate our digital implementation model and the impact on cost and pricing. We will maintain the same pricing and fee structure for the 2023–24 school year and will provide updates about any future pricing changes.

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Will my school (district) be invoiced based on how many tests I order, or how many students take the test?

Invoices will be based on the number of students on the SSOR Registration Roster that have a status of "registered" at the end of the testing window which is October 31, 2023.

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