Winters’ Bill Could Increase Number of Advanced Placement Classes Offered

By Bill Bartleman, The Paducah Sun, Ky.

Jan. 23–State Sen. Ken Winters will unveil a proposal today that, if approved by the General Assembly, would encourage more high schools to offer advance placement courses in chemistry, calculus and physics.

“We have an ever-increasing shortage of teachers and students interested in those technical areas,” Winters, a Republican from Murray, said. “We need to do more not only to get students interested in taking them, but teachers interested in teaching them.”

He will discuss his plan today at a joint meeting of the House and Senate education committees in Frankfort. His plan will be either Senate Bill 1 or Senate Bill 2, and be introduced when lawmakers reconvene on Feb. 6 for a five-week session.

The program would cost an estimated $4.7 million over the next two years, but save parents and students and estimated $7.9 million in tuition costs, Winters said.

Students who take and pass advance placement courses can take examinations that will give them college credit and allow them to avoid a semester or two of work taking classes.

All three McCracken County high schools (Lone Oak, Reidland and Heath) offer Advanced Placement classes, and classes are offered at the central office campus. Subjects include biology, English, literature, studio art, chemistry, physics, Spanish, French, U.S. Government, European history and German, according to district spokeswoman Cheryl Lawson. Paducah Public Schools offers 18 AP courses at Tilghman, according to its district calendar.

Winters said incentives in his bill include:

–Funds to help cover the costs for high schools starting new advance placement programs in chemistry, calculus and physics.

–Paying the $84 cost for each student taking an advance placement examination in any area.

–Paying teachers a bonus for each student who takes the exam for a science or technical course and receives a score ranging from five (the highest) down to three.

–Paying students a small financial reward for passing the test.

Also, Winters said his bill will propose a change in the length of time college students have to finish their education and continue to be eligible for the special scholarship program that is funded with profits from the Kentucky Lottery.

Currently, the deadline does not provide for a grace period for the length of time a student in the military reserve is on active duty. His measure will allow for a grace period equal to the time a student is on active duty.

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