What's happening
This bill creates a grant program to expand Advanced Placement courses in schools and provides funding to help low-income students pay AP exam fees.
Why it matters
Targets underserved schools. by prioritizing grant funding for districts offering fewer than four AP courses, aiming to close opportunity gaps and support schools with “unmet AP potential.”
Invests in educator capacity. through grants that fund teacher training and the acquisition of necessary materials and equipment, potentially raising AP course quality and sustainability.
Reduces financial barriers for low-income students. by covering AP exam fees not already waived by federal or College Board programs, increasing access to college-credit opportunities for disadvantaged students.
Requires ongoing state funding. for both the expansion of AP programs and exam fee assistance, signaling a commitment to sustained investment in educational equity and advanced coursework.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Expand AP Course Access
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 55
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1447
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 9, 2017
Introduced by Sens. FUNKE, CARLUCCI, FELDER, ORTT, RANZENHOFER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to creating advanced placement coursework opportunities
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 305 of the education law is amended by adding two new subdivisions 56 and 57 to read as follows:
56. (a) The commissioner shall develop a grant program to assist local school districts in an effort to either establish or expand advanced placement programs. Schools which currently offer fewer than four advanced placement courses and have an unmet advanced placement potential shall be given preference for such funding. Funding for such assistance shall include: recognized training that provides teachers with the necessary content knowledge and instructional skills to prepare students for success in advanced placement courses and on advanced placement examinations, and course start-up costs such as curriculum materials, necessary laboratory equipment and other materials required for the offering of such courses. The commissioner shall develop additional grant-eligibility criteria and shall award funds to applying school districts accordingly.
(b) The legislature shall appropriate state monies as may be necessary to implement such program in accordance with the provisions of this subdivision.
57. (a) The commissioner shall develop a mechanism to fund, for financially eligible students, the portion of the advanced placement exam fee that is not currently funded by the federal advance placement test fee program, the college board test fee waiver and the school test processing fee waiver.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04181-01-7
S. 1447 2
(b) The legislature shall appropriate state monies as may be necessary to implement such mechanism in accordance with the provisions of this subdivision.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to creating advanced placement coursework opportunities
Purpose
This bill would expand access to advanced placement courses and subsidize advanced placement exam fees.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 requires the commissioner to develop a grant program to assist local school districts with limited advanced placement offerings in establishing or expanding advanced placement courses. It also requires the commissioner to develop a mechanism to subsidize the portion of the advanced placement exam fee that is not currently funded by a federal program. Section 2 establishes the effective date.
Justification
Research shows that students who take advanced placement courses in high school are more likely than their peers to earn college degrees in four years, thus saving them money and time. By expanding access to these courses, and lessening the cost for financially eligible students who take advanced placement exams, the state can improve educational and economic opportunity for students who currently have limited access to such courses.
Legislative history
S.3130A of 2015-2016; Passed the Senate. S.7754 / A.10040 of 2013-2014; Referred to Education.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.