MCPS walks back not paying for AP, IB exams; district says topic was under internal review

School system previously said it would stop paying for some students’ testing fees

July 24, 2026 7:04 p.m.

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) told Bethesda Today on Friday that it will be paying for all Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate testing fees for the 2026-2027 school year — walking back a decision shared with Bethesda Today on July 14 after the district said the topic was under internal review.

“We got out over our skis and shared information that was being internally discussed as a possibility regarding any changes to charge students for their AP/IB exams. All students will have their AP/IB exams paid for,” MCPS spokesperson Liliana López said in an email to Bethesda Today late Friday.

López told Bethesda Today in a July 14 email that in order for MCPS to pay for students’ exams in full, the students must be enrolled in the AP or IB course, be taking the exam for the first time and meet the state qualifications for College and Career Readiness.

“MCPS covered the AP/IB exam fees up until the end of 2025-26 school year. The changes for this upcoming year are in alignment with the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future,” López wrote.  

- Advertisement -

The state’s definition for College and Career Readiness is a metric students can meet through a mix of taking assessments such as the SAT and earning certain grades in courses. According to the Blueprint website, the state aims to have all students meet the standard by the end of their 10th grade year, but most of the standards are geared toward 11th and 12th graders.

Additionally, López shared that students who qualified for Free And Reduced Meals (FARMS), a measure of poverty, would pay for 50% of their fees if they do not qualify for College and Career Readiness. That will not be the case and all students will have their exams paid for, according to López.

López said MCPS paid $4,184,063 for 48,923 exams in May 2026. The district also paid $605,666 for 6,730 IB exams in May 2026.

MCPS walking back not paying for AP and IB exams comes in the midst of MCPS shifting rules about when it pays for dual enrollment classes.

Digital Partners

Originally published at Bethesdamagazine