H1435 — An Act relative to advanced placement examinations

Summary

An Act relative to advanced placement examinations

Bill Text

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This bill requires public higher education institutions to adopt policies for accepting advanced placement exam scores of three or higher towards degree requirements.

• Chapter 15A

  Section 39A. (a) All public institutions of higher education, as set forth in section 5, shall develop and adopt written policies and procedures to accept a score of three, four, and five on all advanced placement examinations to satisfy degree requirements.

  This creates a new requirement for institutions to accept AP exam scores for degree credit.

• Chapter 15A

  The policies shall indicate whether the credit shall be granted for general education, major, or elective requirements at the institution, and shall include procedures related to the transferability of these credits to another institution of higher education.

  Institutions must clarify how AP credits are applied to various degree requirements.

• Chapter 15A

  An institution may not require an exam score of more than three unless the chief academic officer provides evidence that the higher score is necessary for a student to be successful in a related or more advanced course for which the lower-division course is a prerequisite.

  This establishes a limitation on requiring higher AP exam scores without proper justification.

• Chapter 15A

  The department of higher education shall provide guidance on what constitutes as evidence for an institution to require an examination score of more than three.

  It mandates the department to offer guidance regarding the justification needed for requiring higher scores.

• Chapter 15A

  All policies and procedures governing the award of credit shall be posted on the institution’s website under the category of admission, which the institution shall update as necessary to reflect any changes in policies and procedures.

  Institutions are required to publicly display their AP credit policies on their websites.

• Chapter 15A

  In addition, each institution shall submit its policies and procedures, or any changes thereto, to the department of higher education who shall post each institution’s policies and procedures, or changes thereto, on the department’s website.

  This ensures that all institutions report their policies to a central authority for public access.

• Chapter 15A

  The board of higher education, and in the case of the University of Massachusetts, in cooperation with the board of trustees of the University of Massachusetts, shall annually review the advanced placement examination score course granting policies of each institution of higher education and any evidence supporting policies requiring scores above 3.

  It establishes an annual review process of AP credit policies by the relevant education boards.

• Chapter 15A

  Each institution of higher education shall provide the board of higher education, and in the case of the University of Massachusetts, its board of trustees, with all necessary data, in accordance with the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, to conduct the analysis.

  Institutions must provide data necessary for the annual evaluation of AP policies.

• Chapter 15A

  All policies and procedures governing the award of credit shall be posted in an easily accessible location on the institution’s website.

  Further emphasizes the requirement for accessible posting of AP credit policies.

• Chapter 15A

  The first annual report required by subsection (c) of section 39A of chapter 15A of the General Laws shall be published not later than July 1, 2025.

  Specifies the timeline for the first report on AP credit policies.

• Chapter 15A

  The department shall determine when section 1 shall take effect, but it shall be no later than one year after enactment.

  Sets a deadline for the implementation of the new regulations.

Sponsors

• Richard M. Haggerty · Primary

Subjects