In the near future, I plan to reintroduce Senate Bill 1341 from the previous session. This bill aims to help lower the cost of and to ensure all Pennsylvania students have greater opportunities to advanced courses in core academic subjects and to encourage more school districts to offer tuition and time saving college level course work.

This legislation will help lower the cost of college level exams that can help students earn college credit for students from families earning less than 185% of the federal poverty level. Much like the guidelines for free or reduced-price lunch programs, which ensure that students from low-income families receive essential nutrition without financial burden, this initiative aims to provide access to educational opportunities. Students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are often unable to afford these exams, which prevents many from exiting high school with college credits.

Additionally, this legislation will establish an Advanced Coursework Teacher Training Program, which will provide training for teachers in eligible schools to offer AP courses in core academic areas. Schools eligible for this program are those currently offering fewer than two AP courses in each core subject.

Investing in AP courses yields significant benefits for taxpayers, families, and students. In May 2020 alone, Pennsylvania public and private high school students took nearly 100,000 AP exams that resulted in college credit-worthy scores. With each qualifying score representing the potential for 3 college credits, this equates to approximately 279,882 college credit hours. Given the average tuition cost of $499.67 per credit hour, this translates to potential savings of $139.8 million in tuition for Pennsylvania families.

AP courses not only prepare students for college and future careers, but they can also increase the scholarship opportunities available to them. By covering the costs of these exams for students most in need, Pennsylvania can level the playing field, allowing all students to benefit from their hard work and advanced coursework.

Please join me in co-sponsoring this legislation and help provide all Pennsylvania students with access to advanced coursework, raising the standard for both students and schools across the state.
 

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 0562: P.L.30, No.14