FINAL BILL REPORT
ESSB 5410
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
C 316 L 19
Synopsis as Enacted
Brief Description: Concerning a systemwide credit policy regarding advanced placement, international baccalaureate, and Cambridge international exams.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development (originally sponsored by Senators Mullet, Rivers, Palumbo, Liias and Wilson, C.).
Senate Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development
House Committee on College & Workforce Development
Background: There are several dual credit opportunities for students in high school to earn college credits. National examination based options include the Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and Cambridge Assessment International Examination (CAIE).
In 2017, legislation was enacted requiring higher education institutions to establish a coordinated, evidence-based policy for granting undergraduate college credits to students who earn minimum scores of three on AP examinations. Institutions must post the policy on campus websites effective for the 2017 fall academic term, and conduct reviews of the policy and report noncompliance in annual reports to the Legislature beginning November 1, 2019.
In 2018, ESB 5917 was enacted requiring higher education institutions to establish a coordinated, evidence-based policy for granting as much undergraduate credit as practicable for students who earn passing scores on IB and CAIE examinations. The institutions must post the policy on campus websites effective for the 2018 fall academic term, and conduct reviews of the policy and report noncompliance in annual reports to the Legislature beginning November 1, 2020.
Summary: Higher education institutions are required to award as much credit as possible and appropriate for scores of:
three on an AP exam;
four on a standard-level or higher-level IB exam; or
E on A and AS level CAIEs.
Each higher education institution must develop a process for retroactively awarding IB credit for students who first enrolled in the 2018-19 academic year.
If an institution is unable to award general education course equivalency, the student may request in writing an evidence-based reason as to why the course equivalency cannot be granted.
Higher education institutions must conduct biennial reviews of their credit awarding policies and report noncompliance to the Legislature by November 1st each biennium, beginning November 1, 2019.
The institutions must provide an update on credit awarding policies to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee by December 31, 2019.
Votes on Final Passage:
Senate | 46 | 0 | |
House | 98 | 0 | (House amended) |
Senate | 47 | 0 | (Senate concurred) |
Effective: | July 28, 2019 |