Establishes an advanced coursework and examination access program to reimburse exam fees associated with the administration of an advanced coursework exam; defines terms; requires authorized schools to inform students and parents of all advanced coursework programs offered, their cost-free status, and the potential benefits of their successful completion as it relates to college credit and other academic opportunities; makes related provisions.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A7836
SPONSOR: Eachus
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to establishing an
advanced coursework and examination access program
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The purpose of this legislation is to provide a reimbursement to school
districts for all advanced placement examinations.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends the education law by adding a new section 817 that
defines "advanced coursework program," "advanced coursework provider,"
"advanced coursework exam," "authorized school," "exam fee," and
"provider fee reduction" as used in the act. This section also provides
the Department of Education is authorized and directed to reimburse exam
fees associated with end-of-year advanced coursework testing.
Subsection 3 adds school districts hosting one more authorized schools
shall file with the commissioner all information relevant to securing a
reimbursement.
Subsection 4 requires authorized schools to inform students and parents
of all advanced coursework, their cost-free status, and the benefits of
the successful completion of these courses in their relation to college
credit and other academic opportunities.
Section 2 provides the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Advanced placement (AP) classes provide students with an opportunity to
experience higher-level coursework in a high school classroom setting.
While these opportunities begin to expose our students to college-level
studies, the end-of-year examination costs exclude many of our students
from middle and low-income families from receiving the academic credit
for their work. Currently, states like Florida, Georgia, and South Caro-
lina provide their AP students with a cost-free exam.
This legislation will authorize the Department of Education to reimburse
exam-related fees to school districts in the state. By providing this
reimbursement, students, and their parents, taking the AP exams are not
burdened with the cost of one, or even multiple, exams - allowing all of
our students to participate in the opportunity to earn college credit,
as well as encourage more high school students to take AP classes,
saving them time and money once they begin their college careers.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of July.next succeeding the date
on which it shall have become a law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7836
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
July 7, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. EACHUS -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing an
advanced coursework and examination access program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 817 to
2 read as follows:
3 § 817. Advanced coursework and examination access program. 1. For the
4 purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following
5 meanings:
6 a. "Advanced coursework program" shall mean a course of study offered
7 by a nonprofit foundation or organization to students of authorized
8 schools that results in the award of college credit or by which the
9 completion of the program commonly results in the discretionary granting
10 of credit by colleges at enrollment, such term shall not include
11 programs offered by institutions of higher education pursuant to section
12 two of this chapter.
13 b. "Advanced coursework provider" shall mean a nonprofit foundation or
14 organization that develops and administers advanced coursework programs
15 and is recognized by the commissioner and the board of regents.
16 c. "Advanced coursework exam" shall mean any test or exam administered
17 as a component of an advanced coursework program and is a requirement of
18 the program in order for a student to achieve college credit or a
19 discretionary equivalent as defined by paragraph a of this subdivision.
20 Such test or exam must require a fee prior to administration.
21 d. "Authorized school" shall mean an institution of secondary educa-
22 tion that has completed an audit or authorization process through the
23 advanced coursework provider allowing for the delivery of an advanced
24 coursework program.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11495-01-3
A. 7836 2
1 e. "Exam fee" shall mean the billed cost of an advanced coursework
2 exam.
3 f. "Provider fee reduction" shall mean a reduction or financial
4 assistance granted by an advanced coursework provider for certain quali-
5 fying students to partially reduce an exam fee.
6 2. The department is authorized and directed to reimburse exam fees
7 associated with the administration of an advanced coursework exam. The
8 amount of such reimbursement shall reflect the per pupil cost after
9 taking into account any provider fee reduction.
10 3. School districts hosting one or more authorized schools shall file
11 with the commissioner, in a form determined by the commissioner, all
12 information relevant to securing a reimbursement by June first of the
13 base year. The department shall provide the school district hosting one
14 or more authorized schools the reimbursement within thirty days of such
15 filing.
16 4. Authorized schools are directed to inform students and parents of
17 all advanced coursework programs offered, their cost-free status, and
18 the potential benefits of their successful completion as it relates to
19 college credit and other academic opportunities. Such notification shall
20 be provided to each student and parent directly at the start of the
21 academic year and made available on the school website.
22 § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding
23 the date on which it shall have become a law.