STATEHOUSE (March 5, 2010) - Senate and House lawmakers reached a compromise today on legislation benefiting Advanced Placement (AP) students and the higher education community, according to State Sen. Dennis Kruse (R-Auburn).

House Enrolled Act 1135 requires Indiana’s public colleges and universities to exempt from certain college classes high school students with AP credit. Kruse, chair of the Senate Committee on Education, said the decision to accept students’ AP exam scores for academic credits currently rests with the state’s higher education institutions.

“The AP program was created to allow high school students to take college-level courses and earn credit toward a degree program for high scores on year-end exams,” Kruse said. “The amended bill requires public universities to accept AP credit and gives the institutions needed flexibility to ensure the credits are applied fairly and appropriately.”

Kruse said many K-12 students, parents and teachers believe all AP credits should be accepted by state colleges and universities. Indiana’s public universities shared a concern, Kruse said, for AP credit courses that do not meet the rigor of certain college programs.

The bill would require state universities to apply credits from students who score a three out of five on the AP exam as general or elective credits in a degree program. Kruse said the measure also allows public universities to require students to have an above average score - like a four out of five or a five out of five - on an AP exam in order to apply the academic credits toward certain rigorous degree programs like math and science.

Kruse worked with House lawmakers, the Indiana Department of Education, state universities and the Indiana Higher Education Commission on details of the bill.

The College Board, which administers the AP program in Indiana and other states, offers 33 courses and exams across multiple subject areas in high schools. Each course is developed by a committee composed of college faculty and AP teachers, and covers information, skills and assignments found in the corresponding college course.

Kruse represents Senate District 14, which includes portions of Allen, DeKalb and Steuben counties.