Legislative Session

As the 2025 Florida Legislative Session heads toward the finish line, House Bill 5101 and Senate Bill 2510 have emerged as the latest pieces of legislation that could impact programs for students who look for opportunities to earn college and career credentials. 

Background 

In House Bill 5101, the Florida legislature proposes revising Florida Statute 1011.62, which pertains to additional program funding for full-time enrollment of students in Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge (AICE), Dual Enrollment (DE), and Career and Professional Education (CAPE). 

How are those programs currently funded: 

The AP, IB and Cambridge ICE programs are funded at $852 per student for each course they take for 2024-2025. For each student who passes the exam, the state has provided an additional $852 to the district. All the funds are used for the programs in the form of teacher salaries, professional development, course materials, exam fees for students, and other program-related expenses.    

What changes? 

 Districts will still receive the initial $852 per student enrolled to cover the course costs. What changes is how the additional funds are allocated. Instead of just passing the exam to trigger the additional $852 per student funding, students will have to score above a yet-to-be-determined threshold for the district to receive $426 to be used towards program costs.  

The remaining $426 that was previously designated for the AP, IB, AICE, DE, and CAPE programs based on student performance will be left to the discretion of the school board to spend as they see fit. Districts could choose to continue to use those funds for the programs, or they may decide to use them in other areas. 

How will these cuts affect those programs? 

By removing the requirement that the full $852 be spent on these programs, school districts could allocate funds that previously went to the programs to other areas of their budgets. However, they are not required to do so and could continue to use the full $852 per student they receive for student performance to cover program expenses. In addition, by adding a threshold score requirement, districts could lose funding they would have previously received from students passing the exams. 

How is DCPS responding? 

DCPS is advocating that the full $852 per student allocation for student performance on the exams be used to fund AP, AICE, IB, DE and CAPE, as teachers, programs, and students could be impacted by cutting designated funding. 

What can you do? 

Please share any comments or concerns you may have with your legislators. They welcome hearing from constituents, particularly if you have a personal impact story related to this legislation.  

JPEF Manager of Policy and Data explains HB 5101:

News Stories About HB 5101

Florida Times Union: Florida budget votes opens questions about schools' college prep, career training funding

News4Jax: Students, school districts declare vocal opposition to state law changes that would affect AP, IB, other courses

Florida Politics: Column from Sen. Danny Burgess (R-Zephyrhills), A fiscally responsible approach to K-12 funding and flexibility in Florida