There is currently a proposed bill in the North Carolina Senate that, if passed, would substantially cut Advanced Placement funding. This bill would cut $14 million from AP. This would limit opportunities to receive college credit while in high school for thousands of students. This issue impacts all AP students and their families.

If this bill passed, public schools would no longer pay for students to take their AP exams. Each exam is $99. Ninety-nine dollars for every AP exam. This would force students and their families to have to be able to afford the fee. If, for example, a student took two AP classes in one school year, their family would have to pay $198 just to take the tests. If they did this all four years of high school, they would be paying $792 total. Then, if the family had four kids who all did the same thing, that would amount to $3,168. All this, just to take an exam.

Additionally, colleges like to see that students have taken rigorous courses and have challenged themselves. If students do not take as many AP classes simply because of a lack of funding, their resumes will not look as good, and colleges will be less likely to admit them. Advanced Placement classes also prepare students for the difficultly of college classes. This is important in helping them make a smoother adjustment to college. If this bill passes, students will be less likely to take an AP class, and students will have a steeper learning curve when they go to college.

The bill is in the process of being passed right now. It is currently in the Senate. Now is the time to stop this from happening. It is harder for average citizens to get rid of a bill than to keep it from being passed in the first place. Furthermore, every person's opinion counts, and should be heard. By signing this petition, people let their local politicians know what their constituents want. Congressmen represent the people, and should hear what the people want. Now is the time to act. Now is the time that this bill's progress can be discontinued. Students depend on it. Students' money, credits, and education are on the line. The AP community–students, teachers, parents, friends, family, neighbors–needs to unite together to advocate for fairness and equity for students' education and future opportunities.