BILL NUMBER: AB 1238 INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Hernandez FEBRUARY 27, 2009 An act to amend Section 52240 of the Education Code, relating to pupils. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1238, as introduced, Hernandez. Advanced placement program. Existing law contains legislative findings and declarations regarding advanced placement courses. Existing law states the intent of the Legislature that certain state funding that is currently provided to school districts be made available to provide financial assistance to economically disadvantaged pupils in the payment of advanced placement examination fees. Existing law further states the intent of the Legislature that a competitive grant program also be established for the purpose of awarding grants to economically disadvantaged pupils to cover the costs of advanced placement examination fees, thereby creating a second source of financial assistance for economically disadvantaged pupils taking advanced placement examinations. This bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change to these provisions. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 52240 of the Education Code is amended to read: 52240. (a) The Legislatureherebyfinds and declares all of the following: (1) Advanced placement courses, for which school credit is awarded, provide rigorous academic coursework opportunities for high school pupils and help to improve the overall curriculum at schools where they are provided. (2) The successful completion of advanced placement courses and subsequent advanced placement examinations, which are conducted by the College Entrance Examination Board and for which college credit is awarded, provide a cost-effective means for high school pupils to obtain college-level coursework experience. (3) To the extent that economically disadvantaged pupils are provided financial assistance to take advanced placement examinations, they will be provided with successful college-level experience and be encouraged to pursue postsecondary education opportunities. (b) It is the intent of the Legislature, therefore, that certain state funding that currently is provided to school districts be made available to provide financial assistance to economically disadvantaged pupils in the payment of advanced placement examination fees. It is further the intent of the Legislature that a competitive grant program also be established for the purpose of awarding grants to economically disadvantaged pupils to cover the costs of advanced placement examination fees, thereby creating a second source of financial assistance for economically disadvantaged pupils taking advanced placement examinations.