State Would Cover Testing Fees

Jan 18, 04:57 PM

Jan. 18--FRANKFORT -- A bill that would pay testing fees for students to take advanced science and math exams was passed unanimously by the Senate Education Committee Thursday.

SB 2, sponsored by Sen. Ken Winters, R-Murray, would provide $4.25 million toward enhancing advanced math and science education. This would include $2.5 million toward Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate test fees and $1 million in grant money for schools starting up advanced classes.

Winters and other education advocates who spoke before the committee hope this bill will address what many state education advocates think is an alarming need for science and math graduates to become competitive in the global economy.

"Our future in Kentucky depends upon how we deal with this pressing issue before us," Winters said. He hopes the bill will double the number of students taking both AP and IB math and science exams.

University of Kentucky President Lee T. Todd Jr. encouraged the passage of the bill.

"No state in America is getting this right," said Todd. "It would give the state of Kentucky a leg up."

Todd said jobs in the health care and computer programming industries are increasing while there is a decline in the agriculture and mining fields.

"The trend is toward the type of occupations this bill would enhance," he said.

The bill purposely leaves out salary supplements to teachers, an issue that was strongly opposed by the Kentucky Education Association last year.

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