Existing law authorizes a system of incentives to encourage high schools to operate International Baccalaureate Diploma Programs, and to encourage pupils in these schools to enroll in, attempt, and pass the International Baccalaureate course of study and examinations that lead to the International Baccalaureate Diploma. Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction, from funds appropriated for the purpose of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, to annually allocate to each school district, on behalf of each high school or middle school within the district that offers the program, up to $25,000 for each participating high school and middle school to cover the costs of professional development required by the program and to help pay the test fees for low- and middle-income pupils in need of financial assistance.

Existing law authorizes a school district receiving economic impact aid funds to expend any portion of those funds to pay for all or part of the costs of one or more advanced placement examinations that are charged to economically disadvantaged pupils, as defined.

This bill would, subject to appropriation in the annual Budget Act or other statute, establish a grant program, administered by the State Department of Education, for the purpose of awarding grants to cover the costs of advanced placement examination fees or International Baccalaureate examination fees, or both, for eligible economically disadvantaged or foster youth high school pupils, as defined. The bill would authorize a school district or charter school to apply to the department for grant funding under the program based on the number of economically disadvantaged or foster youth high school pupils in the school district or charter school who will take the next offered advanced placement or International Baccalaureate examinations and would require that grants be expended only to pay the fees required of eligible economically disadvantaged or foster youth high school pupils to take an advanced placement or International Baccalaureate examination, or both. The bill would authorize an eligible economically disadvantage or foster youth high school pupil enrolled in an advanced placement or International Baccalaureate course, or both, to apply to the designated school district or charter school staff for a grant to pay the examination fee, as provided.

The bill would also make various findings and declarations relating to advanced placement courses and college outcomes.

Date of Hearing: April 15, 2015

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Jimmy Gomez, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 377

Author:(Linder) – As Introduced Ver:February 18, 2015

Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No

SUMMARY: This bill re-establishes, subject to an appropriation in the annual Budget Act for this purpose, a grant program to cover the costs of Advanced Placement (AP) examination fees or International Baccalaureate (IB) examination fees, or both, for eligible economically disadvantaged high school pupils or foster youth. Specifically, this bill:

1. Authorizes school districts, county offices of education and charter schools to apply to the CDE for grant funding based on the number of economically disadvantaged pupils or foster youth enrolled in AP or IB courses who will take the next offered AP or IB exams.

2. Requires participating school districts to designate school district staff to whom pupils may submit applications for grants and to institute a plan to notify pupils of the availability of the grants.

3. Authorizes eligible economically disadvantaged high school pupils or foster youth to apply to the designated school district staff for a grant; provides that the grant shall be used only to pay the AP or IB exam fees, and requires a pupil who receives a grant to pay $5 of the exam fee

4. Provides that if the applications exceed the total funds available for this purpose, the CDE shall prorate the grants based upon the ratio of the total amount requested to the total amount appropriated for this purpose.

5. Authorizes school districts and county superintendents of schools to form collaboratives or consortia in order to participate in the grant program.

6. Authorizes the CDE to enter into a contract with the providers of the AP and IB exams to facilitate program administration, and exempts the CDE from specified Public Contract Code and Military and Veterans Code provisions.

FISCAL EFFECT: Annual GF/P98 costs of $3 million assuming the program is reauthorized at the prior funding level. Prior to implementation of the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), the state provided $3 million in categorical funding for this program.

The bill establishes the AP/IB exam fee grant program, subject to an appropriation in the annual Budget Act. The Governor's proposed budget does not include an appropriation for this purpose.

COMMENTS:

1. Purpose. This bill re-establishes a program that was repealed by its own terms January 1, 2013. The AP/IB test reimbursement program, administered by CDE, removed the financial barriers that prevent many low-income students in comprehensive high schools from taking the AP and IB course test.

2. Background. AB 2216 (Escutia), Chapter 793, Statutes of 1998, established two grant programs to assist economically disadvantaged students with fees for AP exams and to train teachers to offer AP courses. Subsequent bills extended the sunset through 2008. The state began to include IB test fee reimbursements in 2003–04. SB 1442 (Escutia), Chapter 436, Statutes of 2006, codified this practice and extended the sunset date for the AP/IB test reimbursement program through 2013. The program was not reauthorized.

In prior years, both state and federal funds were provided for AP/IB test fee reimbursement. In 2009, state categorical funding for this program was made flexible, allowing LEAs to use the funds for any educational purpose. In 2013, LEAs continued receive this flexible funding through the Local Control Funding Formula.

The federal government has steadily increased its commitment to this program over the years. In 2009, the federal government provided $4.3 million to CDE to reimburse LEAs for AP/IB test fees for students whose family income does not exceed 185 percent of the federal poverty level. In 2013-14, the CDE received $9.3 million in federal funds to reimburse 411 LEAs for 229,834 AP exams and 8,466 IB exams for income-eligible students. In 2014–15, the CDE received a federal grant of $10.7 million to reimburse local educational agencies.

The cost of the AP exam is $55 and the cost of the IB exam is $110.

3. Prior legislation. AB 1854 (Linder) of 2014 is identical to this bill. AB 1854 was held on the Suspense file in this committee.

Analysis Prepared by: Misty Feusahrens / APPR. / (916) 319-2081

Date of Hearing: March 25, 2015

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Patrick O'Donnell, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 377

Author:(Linder) – As Introduced Ver:February 18, 2015

SUBJECT: Examination fees: Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Examination Fee Grant Program

SUMMARY: Re-establishes, subject to an appropriation in the annual Budget Act for this purpose, a grant program to award grants to cover the costs of Advanced Placement (AP) examination fees or International Baccalaureate (IB) examination fees, or both, for eligible economically disadvantaged high school pupils or foster youth; and requires the California Department of Education (CDE) to administer the program. Specifically, this bill:

1. Defines "eligible economically disadvantaged high school pupil" to mean a pupil who is eligible for a federal free or reduced-price meal program.

2. Authorizes school districts to apply to the CDE for grant funding based on the number of economically disadvantaged pupils or foster youth enrolled in AP or IB courses who will take the next offered AP or IB exams.

3. Requires participating school districts to designate school district staff to whom pupils may submit applications for grants and to institute a plan to notify pupils of the availability of the grants.

4. Authorizes eligible economically disadvantaged high school pupils or foster youth to apply to the designated school district staff for a grant; provides that the grant shall be used only to pay the AP or IB exam fees, and requires a pupil who receives a grant to pay $5 of the exam fee.

5. Provides that if the applications exceed the total funds available for this purpose, the CDE shall prorate the grants based upon the ratio of the total amount requested to the total amount appropriated for this purpose.

6. Requires priority to be given to AP exam fees if there is insufficient funding allocated for the grant program.

7. Authorizes school districts and county superintendents of schools to form collaboratives or consortia in order to participate in the grant program.

8. Authorizes the CDE to enter into a contract with the providers of the AP and IB exams to facilitate program administration, and exempts the CDE from specified Public Contract Code and Military and Veterans Code provisions.

FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown

COMMENTS: This bill reestablishes a grant program that was repealed by its own terms January 1, 2013. It was originally established as a five year pilot program by AB 2216 (Escutia, Chapter 793, Statutes of 1998) with a repeal date of January 1, 2005. The repeal date was extended to January 1, 2008 by SB 507 (Escutia), Chapter 646, Statutes of 2003, and it was extended again to January 1, 2013 by SB 1442 (Escutia), Chapter 436, Statutes of 2006.

The repealed version of this program specified that either state funds or federal funds could be used for the grants. The CDE does not need statutory authorization to expend federal funds that may be appropriated for this purpose. The 2013-14 budget provided $10.7 million in federal funds for this program, which provided aid to 143,936 students. The CDE does not yet know how much federal funding will be available for this program in 2014-15.

Advanced Placement test program. The AP test program has been administered by the College Board since 1955. More than 30 AP courses and examinations covering multiple subject areas are offered to high school students. Exams are administered every May and are scored on a scale from 1 to 5. Students earning qualifying scores on AP examinations may obtain course credit and/or placement from colleges and universities. The recently-enacted Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) includes AP scores among several outcome measures used to measure student achievement. Specifically, student achievement will be measure, in part, by the percentage of students who score a 3 or higher on the AP exam.

According to the CDE, the cost to administer each AP exam in 2015 for income eligible students is $55. Since income eligible students are required to pay $5 per exam, the value of the grant is $50 for each exam the student takes.

International Baccalaureate programs. The IB program is based in Geneva Switzerland and operates in several countries, including the United States. The IB diploma program is a two-year pre-university curriculum leading to an IB diploma. Successful IB candidates are typically granted advanced placement credit in colleges and universities. According to the CDE, the cost of the IB exam in 2015 is $110, making the value of the grant to eligible students $105.

Arguments in support. Supporters argue that the bill is important, because removes barriers to AP and IB opportunities for low income pupils, who otherwise may not be able to participate.

Related legislation. AB 1854 (Linder) of last year was identical to this bill. It passed the committee last year on a 6-0 vote and died in the Appropriations Committee.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

California Alliance of Child and Family Services

California Association of International Baccalaureate World Schools

College Board

Opposition

None received

Analysis Prepared by: Rick Pratt / ED. / (916) 319-2087