AN ACT Relating to a systemwide credit policy regarding advanced placement, international baccalaureate, and Cambridge international exams; amending RCW 28B.10.054; creating a new section; and repealing RCW 28B.10.051.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that advanced placement, international baccalaureate, and Cambridge assessment international education coursework prepares students for postsecondary success and provides opportunities for them to earn college credit or secure placement in advanced courses.

The legislature feels strongly that students who have earned minimum passing scores of three on advanced placement exams, four on standard-level and higher-level international baccalaureate exams, or scores of E or higher on Cambridge assessment international education exams deserve to receive undergraduate college credit, including elective credit and, where appropriate, course equivalent credit, for their work.

The legislature finds it necessary to develop a systemwide credit policy that allows those students to easily understand in advance whether institutions of higher education will award them credit, as well as which type of credit students will receive and the rationale for the institution of higher education's determination.

The legislature further encourages institutions of higher education to establish a policy favoring the award of course equivalent credit for the successful completion of standardized and commonly required courses.

(1) The institutions of higher education must establish a coordinated, evidence-based policy for granting as many undergraduate college credits, as possible and appropriate, to students who have earned minimum passing scores of three on ((AP))advanced placement exams ((as possible and appropriate)), four on standard-level and higher-level international baccalaureate exams, or scores of E or higher on Cambridge assessment international education exams.

(2) Each institution of higher education must create a process for retroactively awarding undergraduate college credits under the terms of this section to students who first enrolled in the institution of higher education in the 2017-18 academic year.

(3) Credit ((policy))policies regarding all ((AP))advanced placement, international baccalaureate, and Cambridge assessment international education exams must be posted on campus web sites effective for the ((2017))2019 fall academic term. If an institution of higher education is unable to award a general education course equivalency, the web site regarding credit awarding policy must publicly disclose an evidence-based reason as to why course equivalency cannot be granted. Institutions of higher education must maintain web sites regarding their advanced placement, international baccalaureate, and Cambridge assessment international education policies in a publicly accessible way. The institutions of higher education must conduct biennial reviews of their ((AP))advanced placement, international baccalaureate, and Cambridge assessment international education credit ((policy))policies and report noncompliance to the appropriate committees of the legislature by November 1st each year beginning November 1, 2019.