HB 2438 Summary

• Amends the college credit by examination incentive program to provide bonus payments to school districts and charter schools for students who pass qualifying college credit exams, with higher bonuses ($450) for schools where 50% or more students are eligible for free/reduced-price lunches and lower bonuses ($300) for other schools.

• Requires schools receiving bonuses to distribute at least 50% of bonus funds to classroom teachers whose students passed exams, with remaining funds allocated for teacher professional development, student support, exam fee reimbursement, or instructional materials.

• Establishes a college credit by examination development fund to eliminate or reduce exam fees for economically disadvantaged students and to provide grants to high-poverty schools for developing and operating qualifying examination courses.

• Appropriates $1,000,000 for the incentive bonus program and $1,500,000 for the development fund in fiscal year 2020-2021.

• Requires annual reporting to legislative leadership on exam participation, passing scores, incentive awards distributed, and bonus monies received by schools; program sunsets July 1, 2026.