Virginia Advanced Study Strategi

Who We Are

Virginia Advanced Study Strategies is a non-profit state organization created September 1, 2007, by a partnership between Virginia and the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI). Its purpose is to encourage high school students throughout the Commonwealth to prepare for exciting careers in Math and Science by enrolling in challenging Advanced Placement classes. Businesses throughout the nation are very concerned to find that too few students in the United States are accepting the challenge to become scientists, engineers, and technicians, thus putting our nation's position as an international leader at risk. Birthed with seed money from NMSI and several Virginia businesses, Virginia Advanced Study Strategies will support the development of new AP classes, or strengthening of existing programs, in a variety of ways:

A staff of AP specialists in Math, Science, and English will provide training for teachers in curriculum, instruction and assessment to help them prepare for the AP classes and tests. Intensive training each summer will be followed-up by continuous communication and support throughout the school year.

VASS staff will work with local schools to identify and support a lead teacher in math, science, and English at each local project who will interact directly with the AP specialists to secure resources necessary for the local students to have success in their programs.

VASS will collaborate with Virginia universities to link college professors and resources with the AP classes.

VASS will provide incentives for AP teachers and students to accept the extra challenge of these rigorous programs.

VASS will cover the cost of AP tests for students in the program.

Virginia Advanced Study Strategies
National Math and Science Initiative in Virginia
820 Bruce Street, South Boston, VA 24592

Office: 434-572-5474 Fax: 434-572-5462
vassinfo@svhed.org

VASS Request for Proposals for 2009

Our Request for Proposals (RFP) is now posted on this website. High schools in Virginia are invited to apply. Completed proposals must be returned to us, in both digital and hard copy formats, by August 29, 2008. Please look for the RFP on our Resources page.

A year ago, the newly organized National Math and Science Initiative was interviewing state applicants to determine where to begin support of an initiative to strengthen Advanced Placement® classes in math, science, and English. As you know, Virginia was the first state selected and VASS was born. In this past short year we have built an AP® support program and identified fourteen schools for partnerships for the first cohort. We have also learned from international business leaders, government officials, and American universities just how essential this focus on academic excellence in math, science, and English has become.

For our first cohort, we were forced to limit the group by financial guidelines. However, we are looking to expand the program during the second year to include approximately thirty more schools.

There will be a proposal review and a round of school visits after the application process ends. Schools that are selected for the second cohort will be notified by mid-November.

Advanced Placement ® and AP® are registered trademarks of the College Entrance Examination Board. The College Entrance Examination Board was not involved in the production of this product.