Jacksonville students urge council to oppose state cuts to AP, IB, ACE and CTE funding

Dozens of high school students told the Jacksonville Rules Committee on April 14 that proposed state cuts to funding for AP, IB, ACE (Cambridge) and CTE programs would sharply reduce access to college credit, scholarships and career training for low‑income students.

The students said the changes in bills tracked as HB 5101 and Senate bills including S.B. 2510 (later referenced as S.B. 7030) would remove funding that pays for tests, teacher positions and programs such as dual enrollment and vocational training. "Please, council members, do not throw that key away today," said Tristan Sebastian Rodriguez, a student speaker who framed the programs as essential to the “American dream.”

The public comment drew 21 scheduled speakers from multiple Duval County high schools, including Fletcher High School, Darnell‑Cookman School of the Medical Arts, Wolfson High School and Samuel W. Wolfson. Students described personal experience with AP, IB, ACE and CTE courses and internships, and cited cost and participation figures to explain the potential impact.

Why it matters: speakers said the programs both reduce the cost of college and expand opportunities for students from low‑income households. Several students gave examples of measurable impacts — test fees the district currently covers and the number of students participating — to show how a funding cut could translate into lost classes, fewer teachers and higher out‑of‑pocket costs.

Students and parents who spoke provided details and estimates used throughout their remarks: one student estimated the Duval County impact at about $8,000,000; a speaker cited Fletcher High School’s AP participation rate at 62 percent of 2,192 students (about 1,359 students); another said AP exam fees are $94 and IB exam fees $119 and described individual students who would face hundreds of dollars in test bills if the district stopped covering exam costs.

Direct appeals and testimonials dominated the remarks. Caden Young, who described himself as active across ACE, AP, CTE and dual enrollment, urged the committee, "Pass a resolution opposing Senate Bill 7030. Show the state that Jacksonville does not give up on its students, not now and not ever." Michael Phillips described a fellow student who would face more than $1,000 in exam fees in a single year if funding were removed.

Council response and next steps: Councilman Matt Carlucci said he and staff have been preparing a resolution opposing the cuts and asked colleagues to sign on as co‑introducers. "Our resolution will be, I guess, opposing these cuts, but it will be more so in supporting what the $8,000,000 has done for these students," Carlucci said, adding he would introduce the measure and seek co‑introducers. Several council members publicly volunteered to co‑introduce, and Councilmember Rockman (Dr.) Johnson said he had also been working on a resolution.

The committee did not adopt a binding ordinance at the April 14 meeting; the action on the dais was to solicit and prepare a nonbinding council resolution for later formal introduction and co‑sponsorship.

Quotes (selection): "Programs like ACE, AP, and IB allowed [my father] to work through a collegiate system he would otherwise have been unable to afford," Tristan Sebastian Rodriguez said during public comment. "Pass a resolution opposing Senate Bill 7030. Show the state that Jacksonville does not give up on its students, not now and not ever," Caden Young told the committee.

Ending: Committee members thanked the student speakers for organizing and attending. Councilman Carlucci and other council members said they expected to circulate a draft resolution to members for co‑sponsorship; no formal vote on the resolution occurred at the April 14 Rules Committee meeting.