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S 944

Relates to the liability of a person who makes or uses a false record or statement material to an obligation to pay money to the state or a local government under the tax law

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Brad Hoylman-Sigal

Requires Massachusetts public colleges to adopt uniform AP credit policies for scores 3-5, publish them, ensure transferability, and undergo annual oversight.

REFERRED TO FINANCE
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Bill Summary · S 944

Summary — S 944: An Act relative to advanced placement examinations

Status: Introduced 01/07/2025 (Senate No. 944); referred to Finance.
Filed/Presented by: Sen. Michael O. Moore.
Subject: Requires public higher-education institutions to adopt consistent policies for awarding credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exam scores.

Purpose / Intent

To create uniform, transparent statewide rules for awarding college credit for AP exam scores (scores of 3, 4, or 5) at Massachusetts public institutions of higher education, improve transferability of AP credit between institutions, and ensure public posting and periodic review of those policies.

Key provisions

  • Adds Section 39A to Chapter 15A (public higher education):
    • Institutions must develop written policies to accept AP scores of 3, 4, and 5 to satisfy degree requirements.
    • Policies must specify whether awarded credit applies to general education, major, or elective requirements, and include transferability procedures.
    • An institution may require an AP score higher than 3 only if the chief academic officer provides evidence that a higher score is necessary for student success in subsequent courses; the Department of Higher Education (DHE) will issue guidance on what counts as sufficient evidence.
    • All policies must be posted on each institution’s website under admissions and submitted to DHE; DHE will post institutions’ policies (or summaries) on its website.
    • The Board of Higher Education (and UMass trustees for UMass) will annually review institutional AP credit policies and any supporting evidence for score thresholds above 3, and report findings and recommendations to the Legislature and relevant committee by July 1 each year. Institutions must provide necessary data consistent with FERPA.
  • Section 2: First annual report per subsection (c) due no later than July 1, 2025.
  • Section 3: DHE will set the effective date for Section 1, no later than one year after enactment.

Who is affected

  • Public institutions of higher education in Massachusetts (see Chapter 15A, section 5).
  • Current and prospective students who seek AP credit for degree requirements.
  • Institutional academic officers and registrars (policy development, documentation, and reporting).
  • DHE and the Board of Higher Education (oversight, guidance, and reporting responsibilities).

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Students: greater predictability and likely increased access to credit from AP scores (potentially reducing time and cost to degree).
  • Institutions: administrative work to create/update policies, evidence requirements if requiring scores >3, and obligations to post and report.
  • Academic quality: allows local flexibility where higher thresholds are justified by documented evidence; DHE guidance intended to standardize what evidence is acceptable.
  • Implementation timeline: institutions must have policies posted and submitted; DHE must issue guidance and set the effective date within one year of enactment; first statewide report by July 1, 2025.

Procedural notes

  • Legislative actions show referral to committees (Higher Education; Finance) and at least one hearing scheduled (05/05/2025). Current status listed as REFERRED TO FINANCE.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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