HOUSE BILL 420

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019

INTRODUCED BY

G. Andrés Romero and Raymundo Lara and Natalie Figueroa and

Joy Garratt

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO HIGHER EDUCATION; REQUIRING PUBLIC POST-SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS TO ACCEPT FOR CREDIT PASSING SCORES ON THE COLLEGE BOARD ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAMINATIONS; REQUIRING THE HIGHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO REPORT INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCED PLACEMENT POLICIES TO THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. [NEW MATERIAL] STATEWIDE ADVANCED PLACEMENT POLICY.--

          A. Beginning with the 2019-2020 academic year, public post-secondary educational institutions shall accept a score of three or higher on the advanced placement examination for post-secondary level course credit. Institutions that offer a corresponding course for a particular advanced placement examination as a part of their general education degree requirements shall accept a score of three or higher on the advanced placement examination for course credit as part of their general education degree requirements. If an institution does not offer a corresponding course for a particular advanced placement examination, the institution shall award, at a minimum, elective post-secondary level course credit for those students who receive a score of three or higher on that advanced placement examination.

          B. An institution shall not require an examination score of more than three unless the chief academic officer provides evidence-based research to the higher education department that the higher score is necessary for a student to be successful in a related or more advanced course for which the lower-division course is a prerequisite. Each institution shall publish its updated course-granting policy for advanced placement in accordance with the requirements of this subsection on its website before the beginning of the 2019-2020 academic year.

          C. The higher education department, in cooperation with all public post-secondary educational institutions, shall collect and report the course-granting policy for advanced placement of each institution and the research used by each institution to determine the level of credit and the number of credits provided for the advanced placement examination scores and file a report that includes findings and recommendations to the legislature and the governor. Each institution shall provide the department with all necessary data, in accordance with the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, to allow the department to conduct its analysis.

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