H.B. 234
LEGISLATIVE GENERAL COUNSEL
6 Approved for Filing: R. Bailey 6
6 01-18-23 3:29 PM 6
H.B. 234
1 UNIVERSITY RECOGNITION FOR INTERNATIONAL
2 BACCALAUREATE ACHI EVEMENT
3 2023 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Carol S. Moss
6 Senate Sponsor: ____________
7
8LONG TITLE
9General Description:
10 This bill enacts and amends provisions related to credit for prior learning in higher
11education.
12Highlighted Provisions:
13 This bill:
14 <defines terms;
15 <amends the board's requirement for acceptance of credit for prior learning;
16 <requires institutions to award credit for International Baccalaureate programme
17subject scores under certain circumstances;
18 <allows institutions, in collaboration with the International Baccalaureate State
19Association and school International Baccalaureate program coordinators, to
20determine to what degree requirements the credit will be awarded;
21 <requires the board to consult with the International Baccalaureate State Association
22and school International Baccalaureate program coordinators to develop policies
23regarding standards for awarding International Baccalaureate programme credits;
24and
25 <makes technical and conforming changes.
26Money Appropriated in this Bill:
27 None
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28Other Special Clauses:
29 None
30Utah Code Sections Affected:
31AMENDS:
32 53B-16-110, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Chapter 365
33
34Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
35 Section 1. Section 53B-16-110 is amended to read:
36 53B-16-110. Credit for prior learning -- Board plan and policies -- Reporting.
37 (1) As used in this section:
38 (a) "Credit for prior learning" means credit awarded by an institution to a student who
39demonstrates, through a prior learning assessment, that the student's prior learning meets
40college-level competencies.
41 (b) "Institution" means an institution of higher education described in Section
4253B-1-102.
43 (c) "International Baccalaureate programme" means an International Baccalaureate
44Secondary Education programme course that:
45 (i) the International Baccalaureate establishes; and
46 (ii) an International Baccalaureate diploma candidate takes;
47 (iii) an International Baccalaureate career candidate takes; or
48 (iv) an International Baccalaureate student, who is not a candidate under Subsection
49(1)(c)(ii) or (iii), takes.
50 (d) "International Baccalaureate programme subject score" means the total points the
51International Baccalaureate awards to a student for an International Baccalaureate programme
52course based on fulfillment of all subject requirements, including the end-of-course
53examination and externally assessed coursework.
54 [(c)] (e) "Prior learning" means knowledge, skills, or competencies acquired through
55formal or informal education outside the traditional postsecondary academic environment.
56 [(d)] (f) "Prior learning assessment" means a method of evaluating or assessing an
57individual's prior learning.
58 (2) The board shall develop a plan for advising and communicating with students and 01-18-23 3:29 PM H.B. 234
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59the public about credit for prior learning.
60 (3) (a) The board shall establish policies that provide minimum standards for all
61institutions regarding:
62 (i) accepted forms of prior learning assessments;
63 (ii) awarding credit for prior learning;
64 (iii) transferability of credit for prior learning between institutions;
65 (iv) transcription of credit for prior learning;
66 (v) institutional procedures for maintaining transparency and consistency in awarding
67credit for prior learning;
68 (vi) communication to faculty, advisors, current students, and prospective students
69regarding standards and [cost] costs related to credit for prior learning and prior learning
70assessments;
71 (vii) required training of faculty and advisors on prior learning assessment standards
72and processes; and
73 (viii) portfolio-specific prior learning assessments.
74 (b) The board shall ensure that accepted forms of prior learning assessments described
75in Subsection (3)(a) include [at least the following]:
76 (i) program evaluations, completed by an institution, of noncollegiate programs or
77training courses to recognize proficiencies;
78 (ii) nationally recognized, standardized examinations, including:
79 (A) Advanced Placement examinations;
80 (B) College Level Exam Program general examinations;
81 (C) College Level Exam Program subject examinations; and
82 (D) DANTES Subject Standardized Tests;
83 (iii) International Baccalaureate programme subject scores;
84 [(iii)] (iv) customized examinations offered by an institution to verify an individual's
85learning achievement that may include course final examinations or other examinations that
86assess general disciplinary knowledge or skill;
87 [(iv)] (v) evaluations of corporate or military training; and
88 [(v)] (vi) assessments of individuals' portfolios.
89 (4) (a) The board shall establish minimum scores and maximum credit for each H.B. 234 01-18-23 3:29 PM
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90standardized examination described in Subsection (3)(b)(ii).
91 (b) An institution shall award credit to a student who demonstrates competency by
92passing a standardized examination described in Subsection (3)(b)(ii) unless the award of credit
93duplicates credit already awarded.
94 (5) (a) For purposes of Subsection (3)(b)(iii) and beginning with the 2023-2024, school
95year, all institutions shall award credit to a student who receives an International Baccalaureate
96programme subject score of four or higher for an International Baccalaureate programme
97course unless the award of credit duplicates credit an institution already awarded.
98 (b) An institution, in collaboration with the International Baccalaureate State
99Association and school International Baccalaureate program coordinators, shall determine
100whether the credit awarded in Subsection (5)(a) will satisfy electives, general education
101requirements, or major requirements.
102 (6) The board shall consult with the International Baccalaureate State Association and
103school International Baccalaureate program coordinators to develop policies for all institutions
104regarding minimum and maximum standards for awarding credit under Subsection (5).
105 [(5)] (7) The board shall:
106 (a) create and maintain a website that provides statewide information on prior learning
107assessments and credit for prior learning; and
108 (b) [identify a] maintain software or data [tool that will] tools to support the board in:
109 (i) implementing the plan described in Subsection (2); and
110 (ii) fulfilling the board's requirements described in Section 53B-16-105.
111 [(6) On or before the November 2019 interim meeting, the board shall report to the
112Education Interim Committee on:]
113 [(a) the plan described in Subsection (2);]
114 [(b) the policies described in Subsection (3); and]
115 [(c) the software or data tool described in Subsection (5).]
116 [(7) On or before May 1, 2020, an institution shall report to the board:]
117 [(a) steps the institution will take to:]
118 [(i) implement the plan described in Subsection (2) and the policies described in
119Subsection (3); and]
120 [(ii) communicate to students about credit for prior learning, including about the 01-18-23 3:29 PM H.B. 234
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121policies described in Subsection (3);]
122 [(b) a timeline for the steps described in Subsection (7)(a); and]
123 [(c) each form of prior learning assessment for which the institution provides credit for
124prior learning that is not described in Subsection (3)(b).]
125 (8) An institution shall annually report to the board on:
126 (a) each form of prior learning assessment for which the institution provides credit for
127prior learning; and
128 (b) the total amount of credit for prior learning the institution provides to students.