Bill · S. 4988· Senate(119-S-4988)
Advanced Coursework Equity Act
- Introduced
- 7/15/2026
- Last activity
- 7/15/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Sponsored by
- Cory Booker
- Cosponsors
- - 3 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Advanced Coursework Equity Act aims to increase access to advanced courses and STEM programs in under-resourced elementary and secondary schools. It focuses on helping underrepresented students, including Black, Latino, and Native American students, as well as English learners and students with disabilities. The bill establishes a grant program for state agencies, local agencies, and certain nonprofits to implement fair enrollment practices like open enrollment or universal screening. Funds can be used for teacher training, tutoring, and purchasing materials. The act also requires data collection and reporting to ensure goals for equitable enrollment and performance are met.
Yes· 3 of 29
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+9
Directly funds exam fees, materials, and tutoring for low-income students in under-resourced schools.
Would Black Americans be better off under this?+9
Specifically targets the underrepresentation of Black students in advanced and STEM programs.
Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this?+9
Specifically targets the underrepresentation of Latino students in advanced and STEM programs.
The opposite
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?-2
Increases federal spending through the establishment of a new grant program.
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?-1
Authorizes new government spending of $266 million annually for three years.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Expanded Course Access: The bill allows for the launching of new advanced courses or expanding existing capacity for programs like AP, International Baccalaureate, and early college high schools (Section 7(a)(5)).
- Removal of Enrollment Barriers: By implementing open enrollment, any student who chooses to enroll in an advanced course is allowed to do so regardless of previous test scores or academic performance (Section 4(3) and Section 7(a)(4)).
- Support for Underrepresented Students: The bill provides for direct services, such as tutoring, to help students from underrepresented groups succeed in advanced courses (Section 7(a)(6)).
- Financial Assistance for Low-Income Students: Funding may be used to cover advanced coursework fees or exam costs for students with low incomes (Section 7(b)(3) and Section 7(c)(3)).
- Increased Resources: Schools can use grants to purchase necessary materials such as books, calculators, and laboratory equipment (Section 7(b)(2)).
- Rural and Limited Access Support: Grants are available for nonprofits and institutions of higher education to provide services specifically to students in rural areas or those who otherwise lack access to advanced programs (Section 5(a)(1)(C)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Automatic Enrollment: Under universal screening, students determined to be qualified are automatically enrolled in advanced courses unless a parent chooses to opt out (Section 4(5)).
- Limited Grant Availability: The Secretary is restricted to awarding a specific number of grants per cycle (for example, only 6 to 10 for state agencies), meaning many state or local agencies may not receive funding (Section 5(e)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For African Americans+9Good For Hispanic Americans+9Good For Low Income Households+9Good For Native Americans+9Good For Students+9Good For Children+8Good For People With Disabilities+8Good For Rural Residents+7Good For Immigrants+6Good For Urban Residents+6Good For Young Adults+6Good For Middle Class Households+4Good For Women+4Good For Asian Americans+3Good For Men+3Good For White Americans+3Good For Business Owners+2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity+8Improves Disability Rights+7Improves Poverty Reduction+4Improves Gender Equality+3
- Education And Technology
- Increases Public School Funding+7Increases Scientific Research Funding+4Improves College Affordability+3
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+4Increases Federal Power+2
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Rural Development+5
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Economic Growth+3Increases Job Creation+2Reduces Government Spending-2Reduces National Debt-1
- 7/15/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
3 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Richard DurbinDemocrat · Illinois
Ben LujánDemocrat · New Mexico
Chris Van HollenDemocrat · Maryland