A new bill proposed by Florida lawmakers (HB 5101) could cut funding for AP courses, dual enrolment, and numerous other high school programs. Naturally, this proposal has sparked outrage with controversy between politicians and voters alike. But what does this bill actually do, and what are its implications for high school students and school districts?

AP Classes & Funding

First, it’s crucial to understand how the AP program works. AP—or Advanced Placement—is a program offered by the College Board with classes ranging from maths, sciences, languages, and history. The courses are more intensive than typical high school classes, and they’re taken by an estimated 1.2 million American students.

Every May, students take AP exams for their classes, with scores ranging from 1-5, and 3 being the minimum to pass. When students pass their exam, they can earn a college credit, although each college has a different minimum score that they’ll accept to earn this credit. Overall, AP classes offer a challenging curriculum to students who want to push themselves, and they strengthen college applications with their intensity.

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For school districts and teachers, the program has financial benefits. In Florida, teachers receive $50 for each student in their class who passes the AP exam– an important bonus for teachers who are being underpaid and overworked. The state of Florida also awards $865 to school districts for each student who passes the AP exam, the IB (International Baccalaureate) exam, and the Cambridge exams.

This money is then put back into the schools for resources, classroom materials, and content to manage these programs for students. Overall, these programs have financial benefits for school districts to improve, and are a bonus for teachers.

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The Proposal & Responses

The proposed bill, HB 5051, would cut 50% of state reimbursement for schools with the AP program, IB, Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE), and dual enrollment. Currently, these programs receive $600 million in funding, but this would be reduced to $300 million. The Orange County school district alone is estimated to lose nearly $17 million for these programs.

The budget’s reduction would obviously reduce the amount of money that school districts earn when each student passes their exam, and it would also reduce the bonuses that teachers receive. This could lead to fewer classroom materials for students and potentially less qualified teachers. For the AP program specifically, fewer courses might end up being offered, and students and their families would have to pay more for the exam. This could potentially take away important resources for students who want to challenge themselves and earn college credits.

Maria Salamanca, a member of the Orange County school board, made a public statement explaining that "...families might have to pay more if we don't cut expenses in other areas for exam fees, lab materials, and specialized course tools, creating inequities for low-income students and reducing opportunities." She then interviewed students, explaining that "Students will be most impacted by this, that's why I am sharing their voices."

In one quote, Job, a junior at Innovation High School, said, "...not only do these courses save me money on college, they also teach valuable skills such as time management, analytical thinking, and preparing us for college-level rigor. Cutting these crucial courses will hinder my success in college."

This sentiment is shared among many Florida high school students, and in particular, the students Salamanca interviewed all mentioned their appreciation for the programs that have pushed them academically and challenged them as students.

The bill has been especially controversial among Democrats, who accuse the bill of restricting opportunities for students. Anna Eskamani, a member of the House of Representatives, criticized the bill by saying it would take away “educational enhancement opportunities that are transformative for our students, that save families money, save students time, and help every child reach their full potential.”

On the other hand, many Republicans have argued that the bill isn’t reducing opportunities for students and is just a way to increase budget efficiency within the government. Daniel Perez, a member of the Florida House of Representatives has defended the bill by saying that it won’t cut funding for these programs, but it “only adjusts a bonus formula that rewards districts when students pass certain exams– something that currently applies to only about 30% of students taking those courses.”

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Additionally, Florida representative Jenna Persons-Mullicka spoke at the House Budget Committee and stated that the programs wouldn't be directly hurt, since the money is "...bonus weights, these are incentives. These do not fund the entire program."

The Future

Currently, HB 5101's fate is up in the air. Although it passed the House with a 22-6 vote, it'll still need to go through the budget negotiation process between the House and the Senate. The outcome of the bill will be finalized in May.

The outcome of this decision is pivotal not only for Florida school districts, but for the many students that they're supposed to guide and educate. A significant reduction in funding for school districts would not only reduce bonuses, which are important for teachers, but it also has the possibility to limit classroom resources and programs, which are crucial for students.

Dr. Sue Woltanski of the Monroe County school board pointed out Florida's top ranking in terms of education, "That doesn’t happen by accident. It’s an investment.”

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The decision that will be made in May should depend on the voices of teachers and students. As previously expressed, the students enrolled in these programs are grateful that they're able to take them and note how taking AP courses has given them skills they'll take into college. Additionally, these incentives are crucial for funding school districts and giving bonuses to underpaid teachers.

As pointed out by Dr. Woltanski, prioritizing education in the state is an investment, and a significant cut to that funding could have detrimental effects on Florida's public education system.