To the Administrator Addressed (TAA) Correspondence

Texas AP/IB Incentive Program: Exam Fee Subsidy (2026–2027)

Overview

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has provided subsidies for students taking Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) exams since 1993 with the enactment of the Advanced Placement Incentive Program. This correspondence is to inform school systems that the Texas AP-IB exam subsidy for Spring 2027 administrations of AP and IB exams will be $26 for each exam taken by a subsidy-eligible student. 

Every student enrolled in a Texas public school may be considered for a Texas AP-IB exam fee subsidy. However, each student’s eligibility must be confirmed using the published criteria, which can be found on the Fee Reduction Eligibility Criteria webpage. The criteria to qualify for a Texas exam fee subsidy are the same for both AP and IB students.

AP/IB Exam Fee Subsidy Reimbursements

  • AP exam fee subsidies will be granted as a discount on the school’s AP Program Invoice to be paid by the school, on or before June 15, 2027. 
  • The College Board will invoice TEA for the 2027 AP exam fee subsidies credited on each campus’ AP Program Invoice. 
  • After reconciliation of the state invoice, TEA will reimburse the College Board’s AP Program for AP exam fee subsidies granted to districts on their June 2027 invoices.
     
  • IB exam fee subsidies will be managed by each school and/or district. 
  • Each school may submit a TEA IB exam fee subsidy reimbursement application after all 2027 IB exams have been administered.
  • The IB exam fee subsidy application will be published on TEA’s IB webpage after the 2027 exam administrations.  

Planning for the 2026-2027 School Year

  • The 2027 AP exam fee is $99. For more information on exam administration, please use the Quick Reference Guide for Educators 2026-27. 
  • The College Board will provide a $37 fee reduction per AP Exam taken by an eligible student.
  • Schools are expected to pass on their $9 rebate for subsidy-eligible students. With the Texas subsidy of $26, the resulting cost of an AP exam taken by an eligible student will be $27.
  • AP exams will be ordered through AP Classroom. The AP exam order deadline is November 13, 2026, for full-year and fall semester courses, for all exam sessions. 
  • The ordering deadline for spring semester course exams is March 12, 2027.
  • A student who meets the criteria published on this Assessment Fees and Services webpage is eligible for an exam fee subsidy reimbursement. 
  • A Texas IB exam subsidy will be reimbursed for each eligible student exam submitted through the 2027 IB Student Exam Fee Subsidy Reimbursement Application. The application will be posted on TEA’s IB webpage.

Contact Information

If you have questions or need assistance, please visit TEA’s Advanced Academics website or email advancedacademics@tea.texas.gov.