School Board Votes To Refund $2 Million Dollars In AP Test Fees

The Fairfax County School Board voted Thursday night to refund approximately $2 million dollars in Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) test fees to families.

The vote came after  Attorney General Ken Cuccinellireleased an opinion in late January, arguing that charging students to take a mandatory exam if enrolled in the course was illegal. The  to either refund the money collected or remove the requirement to take the exam.

Families who have already paid the fee this year will receive their refund in April,according to a press release from the school district.  The Office of the Comptroller, in the Department of Financial Services, will be responsible for overseeing the returns.

"There really was no better option, given where we're at [in the semester]," said Mount Vernon School Board representative Daniel Storck. "It's going to be pretty cumbersome to return the fees, but I support the decision."

Last month the school board adopted , which included $48.8 million dollars more in revenue from Fairfax County, than it received last year. The school board will present its budget to the Board Of Supervisors on March 29th.

"It's always a question of priorities," said Storck of the budget item. "Hopefully, we'll get the requested funds from the supervisors. But the questions remain: do we keep the athletic fee? Do we get rid of the requirement [for students to take the exams]? There are tradeoffs that will need to be made."

During the 2011 fiscal year, students were charged $75 for each Advanced Placement course they took to increase revenue after three years of budget cuts.   Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli could not be reached for comment.

Erica Hendry contributed reporting.

Yes: Kathy L Smith - Chairman, Brad Center, Elizabeth T Bradsher, Sandra S Evans, Stuart D Gibson, Martina A Hone, Ilryong Moon, James L Raney, Patricia S Reed, Daniel G Storck, Jane K Strauss, Judith 'Tessie' Wilson