FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * ABS CAPITAL PARTNERS IV LP   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION INC [APEI] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director __X__ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) (Last) (First) (Middle) 400 EAST PRATT STREET, SUITE 910 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 08/21/2008 (Street) BALTIMORE, MD 21202-3116 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) ___ Form filed by One Reporting Person _X_ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock, par value $.01 08/21/2008   J(1)   353,961 D (1) 3,728,057 D (2)   Common Stock, par value $.01 08/21/2008   J(1)   11,852 D (1) 124,825 I (2) By ABS Capital Partners IV-A, L.P. Common Stock, par value $.01 08/21/2008   J(1)   20,328 D (1) 214,103 I (2) By ABS Capital Partners IV Offshore, L.P. Common Stock, par value $.01 08/21/2008   J(1)   13,859 D (1) 145,967 I (2) By ABS Capital Partners IV Special Offshore, L.P.

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
ABS CAPITAL PARTNERS IV LP 400 EAST PRATT STREET SUITE 910 BALTIMORE, MD 21202-3116	X	X
ABS CAPITAL PARTNERS IV A LP 400 EAST PRATT STREET SUITE 910 BALTIMORE, MD 21202-3116	X	X
ABS CAPITAL PARTNERS IV OFFSHORE LP 400 EAST PRATT STREET SUITE 910 BALTIMORE, MD 21202-3116	X	X
ABS CAPITAL PARTNERS IV SPECIAL OFFSHORE LP 400 EAST PRATT STREET SUITE 910 BALTIMORE, MD 21202-3116	X	X

Signatures

ABS Capital Partners IV, L.P. By ABS Partners IV, L.L.C., its General Partner, By Donald B. Hebb, Jr., Managing Member		08/25/2008
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date
ABS Capital Partners IV-A, L.P., By ABS Partners IV, L.L.C, its General Partner, By Donald B. Hebb, Jr., Managing Member		08/25/2008
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date
ABS Capital Partners IV Offshore, L.P., By ABS Partners IV, L.L.C, its General Partner, By Donald B. Hebb, Jr., Managing Member		08/25/2008
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date
ABS Capital Partners IV Special Offshore, L.P., By ABS Partners IV, L.L.C, its General Partner, By Donald B. Hebb, Jr., Managing Member		08/25/2008
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	Distribution of portfolio securities made for no consideration to ABS Partners IV L.L.C. (the "General Partner") and the respective limited partners of each of the Funds on a pro rata basis.
(2)	The General Partner is the general partner of ABS Capital Partners IV, LP, ABS Capital Partners IV-A, LP, ABS Capital IV Offshore, ABS Capital IV Special Offshore, LP (collectively, the "Funds"), and Phillip A. Clough and Timothy T. Weglicki are the managing members of the General Partner (the "Managers"). The General Partner and the Managers are reporting the indirect beneficial ownership of the reported securities. The General Partner and each of the Managers disclaim beneficial ownership of these securities except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein. The General Partner of the Funds has voting and dispositive power over these shares.
Remarks: This filing constitutes one of two related filings by the following joint reporting persons with respect to the securities of the issuer set forth hereon: ABS Capital Partners IV, L.P., ABS Capital Partners IV-A, L.P., ABS Capital Partners IV Offshore, L.P., ABS Capital Partners IV Special Offshore, L.P., ABS Partners IV, L.L.C., Phillip A. Clough, and Timothy T. Weglicki. The Funds may each be deemed a director by deputization as a result of Phillip A. Clough and Timothy T. Weglicki, each a manager of the General Partner, serving on the board of directors of American Public Education, Inc.

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