The Florida House moves forward with budget bill cutting bonuses for AP course sign-ups

In Tallahassee, Florida, a state budget bill passed by the Florida House on Wednesday may result in a noteworthy decrease in the funding allocated to school districts for students participating in Advanced Placement (AP) courses. This move has drawn criticism from Democrats, who argue that this alteration could undermine the preparedness of public school students for college.

The bill, known as Senate Bill 7030, contains a provision that would halve the state’s reimbursement to school districts for students who achieve high scores on exams such as AP, International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE), and dual enrollment, granting them college credit.

During the debate, Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka from Fort Myers, a Republican, defended the bill by stating, “What we are reducing is the value of an add-on weight, an add-on weight that only certain students generate with certain scores. Last year, only 30% of the students who sat for these programs generated that add-on weight.”

Republican leaders argue the measure is aimed at ensuring accountability in how districts spend state funds, not at cutting core funding for AP or other advanced programs.

“I want to be very clear that the House is not cutting funding for AP, IB, AICE, or dual enrollment programs,” Persons-Mulicka said.

But Democrats sharply oppose the bill, saying it shifts priorities away from public education and toward private schools. Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, said the proposed funding cut will directly harm students.

“We need to protect and expand these programs, not cut them,” Eskamani said. “We’re taking 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.”

Orange County Public Schools estimates that under the proposed changes, the district would receive just 16 million in bonus funding for AP-related coursework next year, down from more than 33 million.

District officials warn the funding reduction could lead to fewer qualified teachers, higher testing costs for families, and a reduced number of course offerings.

Eskamani, an Orange County Public Schools graduate who took multiple AP courses herself, urged residents to speak up.

“It’s very important for Floridians to contact their state representatives and state senators,” she said.

Although SB 7030 passed the House, it must still go through budget conferencing, a negotiation process between the House and Senate, before a final version is adopted. Lawmakers face a May deadline to finalize the state’s budget.