BILL REQ. #:  H-2990.1 

Read first time 01/15/14.   Referred to Committee on Higher Education.

     AN ACT Relating to reviewing institution of higher education policies related to dual credit coursework; adding a new section to chapter 28B.77 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that as the cost of higher education is shifted away from state support and more toward the contribution of students and their families, dual credit courses allow students an opportunity to cut the cost of their higher education by earning college credits while in high school. However, because each institution of higher education has its own unique policies related to awarding such credit, the dual credit work that students do while in high school is not always recognized by institutions of higher education.
     This act is intended to better understand the array of policies that institutions of higher education use to award college credit for dual credit courses. With that understanding, work related to awarding college credit for dual credit courses can continue to create a more uniform policy among institutions of higher education. In doing so, students will have a greater reassurance that their dual credit coursework will be recognized for college credit.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 28B.77 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The council shall review policies related to providing students college credit for completion of dual credit courses. The dual credit courses that should be considered in this analysis include AP, International Baccalaureate, and Cambridge. This review must identify the major differences between institutions of higher education in awarding college credit for completion of dual credit coursework and best practices among the institutions in awarding college credit for completion of dual credit courses. The review must further identify whether the institutional crediting policies apply equally to each dual credit program, or whether certain dual credit programs are not awarded as much college credit. By December 1, 2014, the council shall make recommendations to the higher education committees of the legislature regarding the steps that should be taken to improve the practices of institutions of higher education in awarding college credit for dual credit coursework.
     (2) This section expires August 1, 2015.