1Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An 
2act relating to the public school system, including certain 
3provisions applicable as well to private and parochial 
4schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the 
5laws relating thereto," in transfers of credits between
6institutions of higher education, further providing for 
7definitions, for duties of public institutions of higher 
8education and for transfer and articulation oversight 
9committee.

10The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
11hereby enacts as follows:

12Section 1. Section 2001-C of the act of March 10, 1949 
13(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is 
14amended by adding definitions to read:

15Section 2001-C. Definitions.

16The following words and phrases when used in this article
17shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
18context clearly indicates otherwise:

19"Advanced Placement program (AP)." A program authorized by

1the college board that allows a student to study college-level
2subjects while enrolled in high school and to receive advanced
3placement and college credit for earning a qualified score on
4the course-related Advanced Placement exam.

5* * *

6"College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)." A set of 
7standardized tests developed by the college board for various 
8subjects, and on which a qualifying score can be used to earn 
9college credit.

10* * *

11"Credit for prior learning." College-level credit granted
12toward the award of a postsecondary degree or certificate for
13experiential learning that can be demonstrated through various
14means of assessment to be the equivalent of learning gained
15through formal collegiate instruction, including an Advanced
16Placement exam, International Baccalaureate exam and a College-
17Level Examination Program exam.

18* * *

19"International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IB)." An
20academically challenging two-year pre-college diploma program
21comprised of three core requirements and six academic subject
22areas with final examinations that prepare students, 16 to 19
23years of age, for higher education and life in a global society.

24* * *

25Section 2. Section 2002-C of the act is amended by adding a
26subsection to read:

27Section 2002-C. Duties of public institutions of higher
28education.

29* * *

30(d) Credit for prior learning.--Each public institution of

1higher education shall do all of the following:

2(1) Adopt and make public uniform standards for
3determining academic credit for prior learning as outlined in
4paragraph (4) no later than July 1, <-2015 <-2016.

5(2) Agree to award academic credit for prior learning,
6which is determined to meet the standards established under
72004-C(c)(6) and apply the credit toward graduation, unless
8prohibited by external accreditation or licensure.

9(3) Submit to the department interim reports outlining
10the actions that a public institution of higher education has
11undertaken or intends to undertake to comply with paragraphs
12(1) and (2).

13(4) As a member of the Transfer and Articulation
14Oversight Committee established in section 2004-C:

15(i) Consult with the department on a process and
16timeline, subject to approval by the department, to
17develop uniform standards for determining academic credit
18for prior learning, in consultation with faculty and
19personnel.

20(ii) Develop and implement uniform standards for
21determining academic credit for prior learning, in
22consultation with faculty and personnel.

23(iii) Participate in submitting a status report to
24the department, the Education Committee of the Senate and
25the Education Committee of the House of Representatives.

26(5) For each academic year, report to the department all
27of the following:

28(i) The total number of students awarded credits for
29Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and 
30College-Level Examination Program exams, if available.

1(ii) The total number of credits awarded to students
2for Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and 
3College-Level Examination Program exams, if available.

4(iii) The number of credits awarded to matriculating
5students who present Advanced Placement, International 
6Baccalaureate and College-Level Examination Program exams
7that meet the standards established under 2004-C(c)(6)
8and, of those credits, the number of credits applied
9toward major requirements and the number of credits
10applied toward elective requirements.

11(iv) Any other information related to awarding of
12credit for prior learning as requested by the department
13or the Transfer and Articulation Oversight Committee,
14including the usability of transfer credits.

15Section 3. Section 2004-C(c) of the act is amended by adding
16a paragraph to read:

17Section 2004-C. Transfer and Articulation Oversight Committee.

18* * *

19(c) Duties of Transfer and Articulation Oversight
20Committee.--The committee shall:

21* * *

22(6) Within one year of the effective date of this
23paragraph, develop and implement uniform standards for
24awarding academic credit for prior learning, in consultation
25with faculty and personnel for public institutions of higher
26education and institutions that elect to participate under
27section 2006-C.

28Section 4. This act shall take effect immediately.