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School committee reviews proposal to shift AP test costs to families for first two exams
Summary
The Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School Committee reviewed a proposed change to AP exam procedures that would require families to pay for the first two AP exams taken in a single school year while the district would pay for the third and subsequent exams; members agreed to delay a final vote for two weeks to allow public review.
The Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School Committee on May 4 considered a procedural change that would alter who pays for Advanced Placement exams.
At a presentation, Ms. Carrier summarized data showing that most students who take multiple AP tests score well and that most low scores appear among students taking only one or two exams. Under the proposed procedure, families would pay for the first and second AP exam taken in a single school year; the district would cover the cost of any third, fourth or fifth exam taken that same year. Ms. Carrier said students who cannot afford the fee could apply in writing for financial support before the test sign-up deadline.
Committee members pressed for clarity on several points: whether the test fee would be counted per year or cumulatively across grades, how the policy would affect students who previously would have taken honors classes, whether teachers would still require students to sit the exam, and how changes would be communicated to families. Ms. Carrier said the proposal uses a per-year count (if a student takes four exams in one year, district support would kick in for exams three and up) and that teachers want to continue requiring students enrolled in AP courses to sit for the exam.
The presentation included cost and participation figures. Ms. Carrier reported the district paid for 152 AP exams this school year at an estimated cost of $15,200 and said the current exam price is about $99 plus fees; discounts may apply for students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The presenter and several committee members framed the change as a way to preserve AP participation while reducing district costs and encouraging families to consider test choices seriously.
Members also raised equity and program-structure concerns. Several said moving costs to families could deter students from choosing AP when honors options are no longer available in some subjects; others emphasized creating scholarship or waiver processes to avoid denying access to low-income students.
The committee agreed to postpone a final decision and re-examine the proposed procedure at its next meeting in two weeks, directing administration to post the procedure language and related questions publicly so families and town finance committees can review the fiscal impact ahead of a recorded action vote.
