INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ The Indiana Department of Education is receiving nearly $475,000 from the federal government to help defray the costs of taking advanced placement tests for low-income students.

The U.S. Department of Education announced the award Tuesday as part of more than $28 million in grants to 40 states.

The grants are used to help pay for low-income students taking approved advanced placement tests administered by the College Board, the International Baccalaureate Organization and Cambridge International Examinations. The grants are intended to encourage low-income students to take advanced placement tests and receive college credit for high school courses, saving future college costs.

The grants are expected to be sufficient to pay all but $18 of the cost of each advanced placement test taken by a low-income student.