FINAL BILL REPORT
HB 1202
C 222 L 97
Synopsis as Enacted
Brief Description: Adopting the recommendations of the task force examining high school credit equivalencies.
Sponsors: Representatives Quall, Dickerson, Poulsen, Smith, O'Brien, Costa, Ogden and Mason.
House Committee on Education
Senate Committee on Education
Background: The Legislature has directed the State Board of Education (SBE) to establish minimum high school graduation requirements or equivalencies. The SBE originally defined one high school credit as 150 hours of planned in-school instruction, or five quarter or three semester hours of college or university level course work.
A high school student will normally earn six high school credits annually. A high school student attending college full-time would earn nine high school credits annually.
In 1993, the SBE modified the definition of high school credit equivalencies. Under the new definition, .75 high school credits is equal to five quarter or three semester hours of college or university level course work. Under this new definition, a high school student attending college full-time will earn 6.75 high school credits annually. The SBE has delayed implementing the new conversion rate until September 1997.
In 1994, the Legislature directed the SBE and the Higher Education Coordinating Board to convene a task force on curriculum issues, and to develop recommendations regarding credit equivalencies by December 1994. The task force recommended unanimously that the SBE maintain the definition that one high school credit is equal to five quarter or three semester hours of college or university level course work.
Summary: The relationship of high school credits to college or university credits is defined. One high school credit equals five quarter or three semester hours at the college or university level.
The obsolete requirement for the task force to report recommendations on credit equivalencies by December 1994 is deleted.
Votes on Final Passage:
House 96 0
Senate 47 0
Effective:July 27, 1997