State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced today that the state will defray costs of Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) test fees for more than 129,000 low-income students across California.

The $10.8 million, which will be distributed to school districts, represents nearly a third of the total funding distributed to states under the federal Test Fee Program.

“Every student in California deserves a world-class education, and students who work hard and earn the right to take these advanced tests should never find themselves limited by the fees,” Torlakson said in a press release.

Eligible students will still be required to contribute $5 for each exam taken, with the state paying the remainder of the fees, which total $89 for AP exams and $104 for IB exams.