ASSEMBLY HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 929

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  SEPTEMBER 23, 2024

      The Assembly Higher Education Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 929.

      This bill requires public institutions of higher education to provide academic credit to students who receive a score of three or above on an advanced placement examination or a score of 50 or above on a college-level examination program learning assessment.

      Under the bill, to receive the academic credit, a student is required to: be pursuing an associate or baccalaureate degree; have completed either the applicable advanced placement course and examination or the applicable college-level examination program and learning assessment; and have attained the applicable scores for the advanced placement examination and college-level examination program learning assessment.

      Additionally, the bill requires each institution to post the institution’s policies and procedures for awarding academic credit for advanced placement examinations and college-level examination program learning assessments on its website and submit the policies and procedures to the Secretary of Higher Education. The Office of the Secretary of Higher Education is subsequently required to post each institution’s policies and procedures on the office’s website. The bill also requires each institution to report any proposed change to the policies and procedures to the secretary no less than 60 days before the change takes effect.

      Finally, the bill permits the secretary to provide an institution with an exemption to the academic credit requirements established under the bill on an individual course basis provided that the institution submits data that a required score differing from the academic credit requirements established under the bill are necessary for a student to be successful in a related or more advanced course.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2024-2025 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.