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ALBANY — Gov. Kathy Hochul signed two bills on Thursday to expand access to student governments and advanced placement courses for public school students in New York.
One of the bills would require schools to allow student government bodies in high schools, including in districts that may not currently allow them. The other aims to ensure parents and students receive information about the availability of Advanced Placement (AP) courses and how to enroll in them. Speaking at Tech Valley High School, Hochul stressed how these programs go on to help students succeed.
“I don’t assume that every family knows about this, because everybody has different circumstances and this is an equity issue that makes sure that every child has the same shot to take AP classes in high school also to help defray some of the college costs that an AP class in high school can do for them,” Hochul said to reporters. “Also, as a product of student government myself, I also think it’s important that students learn civics in school, learn about the foundations of our democracy. But also, student government gives them a chance to understand democracy is not a spectator sport.”
Hochul before the press conference took a tour of the school with some student members of the student government and some of them received a ceremonial pen after the bill signing.
Students who take AP classes are scored at the end of the course on a scale of one to five. Many colleges grant college credit to those who score a three or higher, allowing them to possibly skip an introductory course if they attend college.
According to College Board, New York had the second highest percentage of students scoring a 3 or higher on an AP exam during high school at 29.6% in 2022. Massachusetts has the highest at 30.5%.
“This is also a matter of economic survival and success for our state,” Hochul said. “So, we have to make sure that we’re focusing on that pipeline of talent for our employers, as well.”
A recent report by College Board also found that even students who receive scores of less than three are more likely to enroll in a four-year college compared to academically similar students who didn’t take AP in high school. Those same students also go on to do better in their introductory college courses.
The state Department of Education lists more than 40 AP college courses, however the availability can vary by school. Schools also now can offer some courses online if they are not available in-school. Fees to take AP exams vary, but New York offers qualifying students a fee reduction plan that equals $13 per qualifying student and exam.
Assemblyman Steven Otis, who chairs the Assembly Committee on Science and Technology, echoed the governor’s statements and credited the state’s future workforce as one reason why tech and manufacturing companies are expanding in New York.
“I was at a chip plant expansion last year and I asked the CEO, ‘Why did you expand here rather than go to another state or another country?’ He said ‘Because the workers are here and the people that are trained to do this work,’” the Westchester County Democrat said at the press conference. “So, that is the economic engine of this state. That’s what makes success possible, is the fact that you’re in school here for science and tech and you’re getting things done.”
