It’s time for the state to help cover the costs of Advanced Placement exams for the state’s poorest students.
AP courses offer high school students challenging coursework and the opportunity for college credit. For students who score well, these tests can yield thousands in college savings, and AP success is becoming a near prerequisite for admission to many top colleges.
But for low-income families, paying for AP tests can be a challenge. At $87 per test the registration fee is sizable, and for students enrolled in multiple courses the tests can total more than $1,000.
Three states and several counties in North Carolina already cover the cost of exams for enrolled students, but these are the exception.
Florida, which leads the nation in AP student participation, has paid for all AP exams since 2000. But the program has cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.
Of course, North Carolina’s budget constraints limit this state to a more targeted approach than Florida’s universal coverage. Therefore the N.C. General Assembly should focus on covering expenses for the most disadvantaged students.
Public education is about providing equal access to educational success but expensive testing fees by design exclude low-income students.
The state has an obligation to correct this action — just like providing subsidized lunches, the state should ensure provision for those most in need.
