(1) There is created in the department the accelerated college opportunity exam fee grant program to increase the number of eligible students who take advanced placement exams and international baccalaureate exams and receive scores for which college academic credit is awarded by providing funds to high schools to pay all or a portion of exam fees on behalf of eligible students.
(2) The department shall administer the grant program in accordance with state board rules. The department shall:
Accept and review grant applications received from high schools;
Determine the amount, based on available appropriations, that will be awarded foreach exam that will be administered to an eligible student; and
Award grants, at the amount set for each exam that will be administered to an eligiblestudent, determined pursuant to subsection (2)(b) of this section, to each high school that has submitted an application.
(3) (a) The amount set by the department for each exam pursuant to subsection (2)(b) of this section must be the same for each exam, regardless of the subject of the exam.
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (3)(a) of this section, and subject to available appropriations, the department may award a grant for an exam fee in an amount greater than the amount of a grant awarded for another exam up to the amount necessary to cover the entire fee of an exam. In order to award a grant in a greater amount pursuant to this subsection (3)(b), any grant awarded for a lesser amount must cover the entire cost of the exam fee for which the lesser grant is awarded.
(4) Pursuant to article 4 of title 24, the state board shall promulgate rules to implement the grant program, including rules relating to:
(a) The application process, including application requirements and deadlines; (b) A process for verifying student eligibility; and (c) Deadlines for the department to award grants.
(5) A high school that receives an award pursuant to this section shall use the entire amount awarded to pay all or a portion of exam fees on behalf of eligible students who will take an exam in the amount awarded for each exam by the department pursuant to this section.
Source: L. 2018: Entire article added, (HB 18-1396), ch. 243, p. 1509, § 1, effective August 8. L. 2019: (1), (2)(b), (3), and (5) amended, (HB 19-1222), ch. 189, p. 2095, § 2, effective August 2.