BILL ANALYSIS �
SB 421
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Date of Hearing: August 14, 2013
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Joan Buchanan, Chair
SB 421 (Hernandez) - As Amended: August 5, 2013
SENATE VOTE : 37-0
SUBJECT : Pupil instruction: examination fees: International
Baccalaureate Diploma Program and advanced placement courses.
SUMMARY : Re-establishes 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; 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 either from a family whose
annual household income is below 200% of the federal poverty
level or 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 enrolled in AP courses who will take the next offered
AP 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 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 the program is subject to the availability of
federal funds.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
SB 421
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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repealed by its own terms January 1, 2013.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). Prior versions of the grant program
permitted the use of state funds as well as federal funds for
this purpose. This bill provides that only federal funds may be
used. The 2013-14 budget appropriates $11.9 million in federal
funds for this purpose. The CDE estimates that will provide aid
to approximately 217,000 students.
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 for
income eligible students is $57. Since income eligible students
are required to pay $5 per exam, the value of the grant is $52
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 is $145, making the value of the
grant to eligible students $140.
Arguments in support . Supporters argue that the bill is
important, because it ensures equal access to AP and IB
opportunities for low income pupil, who otherwise may not be
able to participate.
SB 421
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Arguments in opposition . Opponents offer three arguments
against this bill:
1)The IB program adheres to the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, and not to the U. S. Declaration of Independence;
2)The IB program is governed by a not-for-profit, Geneva,
Switzerland-based organization, and its curriculum may not be
acceptable to all parents; and
3)Notwithstanding the restriction to federal funding, state
dollars will be used.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
Association of California School Administrators
California Association of IB World Schools
College Board
Opposition
California Right to Life Committee, Inc.
Analysis Prepared by : Rick Pratt / ED. / (916) 319-2087