Advanced placement program.

(1) Existing law contains legislative findings and declarations stating that advanced placement courses, among other things, help to improve the overall curriculum at schools where they are provided and provide a cost-effective means for high school pupils to obtain college-level coursework experience. Existing law states the intent of the Legislature to provide financial assistance to economically disadvantaged pupils for the payment of advanced placement examination fees. This bill would require, commencing with the 2012–13 school year, school districts maintaining any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive, to offer advanced placement courses in science and mathematics at each high school that did not offer any advanced placement courses during the 2011–12 school year, thereby imposing a state-mandated local program. The bill would exempt a school district from this requirement if an advanced placement teacher is not available or if fewer than 10 pupils would be enrolled in any given advanced placement course, and would state the intent of the Legislature that the school district consider alternative means of providing advanced placement courses. The bill would authorize these alternative means to include high-quality online advanced placement courses that meet specified requirements. The bill also would make technical, nonsubstantive changes in the existing provision of legislative intent described above. (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.