Correction: This post was corrected on Nov. 8. An explanation is in the comments.

If you're following the Florida AP debate closely, here's another dimension you should consider: The percentage of low-income students in Florida who are passing AP exams AP test passers in Florida who are low-income is growing fast and now exceeds regional and national averages, according to this new report from the Southern Regional Education Board.

In 2009, 16 percent of low-income seniors in Florida who passed at least one AP exam were low-income, up from 9 percent in 2004. That puts Florida above the national average of 15 percent and ahead of all the 16 SREB member states but Texas (at 26 percent) and Oklahoma (at 18 percent.)

In 2004, Florida was behind the national average of 12 percent and tied for fifth among SREB states. In terms of improvement from 2004 to 2009, Florida and Mississippi lead the pack among SREB states.

The SREB numbers also suggest the gap between participation and passage for that group isn't that big, with  show that 18 percent of low-income seniors taking at least one AP test in 2009 were low-income, up from 9 percent in 2004.