AN ACT Relating to a systemwide credit policy regarding international baccalaureate and Cambridge international exams; adding a new section to chapter 28B.10 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

Therefore, the legislature intends to establish a policy for granting as many undergraduate course credits as possible to students who have successfully completed international baccalaureate and Cambridge international exams and clearly communicate credit awarding policies and course equivalencies to students. This policy is intended to be similar to the credit policy adopted during the 2017 legislative session for AP examinations. The goal of the policy is to award course credit in all appropriate instances and maximize the number of college students given college credit for international baccalaureate exam scores and Cambridge international exam grades.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 28B.10 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The institutions of higher education must establish coordinated evidence-based policies for granting as many undergraduate college credits as possible and appropriate for general education requirements or the equivalent to students who have successfully completed international baccalaureate (IB) or Cambridge international courses and demonstrated mastery of college-level curriculum, as shown by the students' examination scores or grades for those programs. The institutions shall take into account the evidence for student success and the relevance of the IB or Cambridge international curriculum and test scores or grades in consideration of granting college credit or waiving course requirements, with appropriate consideration of the institutions' degree distribution requirements or curriculum for specific degree programs. Policies may consider, for example:

(a) Whether a four on a standard-level or higher-level IB examination and whether a grade of E on a Cambridge international examination indicates that the student has mastered college-level coursework for which undergraduate college credits may be granted; and

(b) What test score or grade for specific subjects indicates if graduation distribution requirements or prerequisite courses may be waived, while preserving the integrity of the institutions' faculty process for determining degree and major curriculum requirements.

(2) The credit policies regarding IB and Cambridge international examinations must be posted on campus web sites effective for the fall 2018 academic term. The institutions of higher education must conduct biennial reviews of their IB and Cambridge international credit policies and report noncompliance to the appropriate committees of the legislature by November 1st of each year, beginning November 1, 2020.

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