During the presidential campaign, Barack Obama promised "a national 'Make College a Reality' initiative that has a bold goal to increase students taking AP or college-level classes nationwide 50 percent by 2016, and will build on Obama's bipartisan proposal in the U.S. Senate to provide grants for students seeking college-level credit at community colleges if their school does not provide those resources."

However, searches using Nexis, Google and Whitehouse.gov turned up no evidence that the administration has done something tangible to advance this promise or anything like it.

Congress has been working on a bill that would boost community colleges. The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009 (H.R. 3221) passed the House on Sept. 17, 2009, by a 253-171 vote. The measure now awaits action by the Senate.

It authorizes grants totaling $730 million for each of the fiscal years 2010 through 2013, and $680 million for each of the fiscal years 2014 through 2019. These grants would aid community colleges in such areas as creating job-training partnerships with industry; providing student support services; creating new degree programs closely tied to the needs of employers; and increasing graduation and postcollege employment rates.

However, we found no specific language in the bill that addresses students taking AP or college-level courses at community colleges. So we are rating this promise Stalled.