Hall County Schools Superintendent Will Schofield has good news for students enrolled in Advanced Placement courses — they’ll get a financial break on their AP exams.

At Monday’s Hall County Board of Education meeting, the superintendent recommended to direct $88,000 of stimulus money to pay for students’ AP exams, which are about $80 each.

In the past, Schofield said the state footed most of the bill for AP exams. But a budget signed by Gov. Sonny Perdue this year provided funding only for students who receive free or reduced-price lunches.

Schofield said parents and teachers have expressed concern that students may take the AP course but forgo the test if they have to pay for them. But taking and passing the exam is what gives students college credit.

The superintendent called the scenario a "tragedy." With a growing number of AP test-takers, he said it was important for the school system to absorb the cost of the tests.

"If a child is willing to put themselves on the line to take these rigorous courses, we should fund it," Schofield said.

The stimulus money is part of the $26 billion jobs bill pushed through Congress on Aug. 10. Hall County Schools is set to receive a share of about $5 million.

Schofield announced that most of the money, about $4 million, would be used to continue funding jobs paid for this year by stimulus money. That includes about 50 to 60 full-time positions.

He added that about $830,000 will be used to eliminate a furlough day this February, and $260,000 will offset the amount teachers spend on classroom supplies. The funds cover about $10 per full-time student.

The Hall County board approved the recommendations.