(1) As used in this section:

(a) ‘College credit program’ means a nationwide program that offers college-level curricula and examinations to high school students, such as the advanced placement (AP) program or the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.

(b) ‘Public institution of higher education’ has the meaning given that term in ORS § 350.350.

(2) An award of academic credit by a public institution of higher education under this section must align with state statutes, rules, standards and requirements regarding the transfer of academic credits to public institutions of higher education.

(3)(a) Each public institution of higher education shall award academic credit in each instance in which an incoming student enrolled at the institution has:

(A) Taken the examination offered as part of a college credit program; and

(B) Received a grade indicating that the student is fully qualified to receive academic credit for the college credit program.

(b) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, a student shall be considered to have received a grade indicating that the student is fully qualified to receive academic credit for the college credit program if the student has received a score of:

(A) Three, four or five on an advanced placement (AP) exam; or

(B) Four, five, six or seven on an International Baccalaureate (IB) exam.

(4)(a) A public institution of higher education may notify the Higher Education Coordinating Commission if the institution considers it necessary to require that, in order to receive academic credit, incoming enrolled students receive a score of higher than three on one or more advanced placement (AP) exams or a score of higher than four on one or more International Baccalaureate (IB) exams.

(b) Upon receiving notice under paragraph (a) of this subsection, the commission shall convene a committee to determine whether the institution may require a score of higher than three on the identified advanced placement (AP) exams or a score of higher than four on the identified International Baccalaureate (IB) exams in order for a student to receive academic credit. Subject to paragraph (d) of this subsection, the commission may use a currently existing committee or work group for the purpose of complying with this subsection.

(c) A committee convened under this subsection shall:

(A) Include representatives from the faculty and staff of public universities listed in ORS § 352.002 and community colleges as defined in ORS § 341.005; and

(B) Consult with a representative from the advanced placement (AP) program and the International Baccalaureate (IB) program prior to issuing a final determination under paragraph (d) of this subsection.

(d) A committee convened under this subsection shall make a final determination on whether the public institution of higher education may require that a student receive a score of higher than three on the identified advanced placement (AP) exams or a score of higher than four on the identified International Baccalaureate (IB) exams in order to receive academic credit. The determination must be based on whether the institution has provided justification for each subject area in which a score of three on an advanced placement (AP) exam or four on an International Baccalaureate (IB) exam is not sufficient for a student to earn academic credit. The justification must include:

(A) A thorough analysis of placement validity findings detailing the academic performance of students at the public institution of higher education who have taken advanced placement (AP) exams or International Baccalaureate (IB) exams, with disaggregated data on courses of study and exam scores; and

(B) Specific data on learning outcomes that have not been met by students who receive a three on the advanced placement (AP) exam or a four on the International Baccalaureate (IB) exam.

(5) If a committee convened under subsection (4) of this section determines that a public institution of higher education may require that students receive a score of higher than three on an advanced placement (AP) exam or a score of higher than four on an International Baccalaureate (IB) exam in order to receive academic credit, the committee shall submit a report detailing the final determination, including the justification provided by the institution under subsection (4)(d) of this section, to the committees of the Legislative Assembly responsible for higher education. The report must be submitted no later than the final day of the first regular session of the Legislative Assembly that begins after the committee has made the final determination.

(6) The Higher Education Coordinating Commission may make rules to implement this section. [2017 c.516 § 1; 2019 c.235 § 1]