By Bob Katzen

The House 25-132, rejected an amendment that would require all public institutions of higher education in Massachusetts to develop and adopt written policies and procedures allowing full acceptance of all appropriate college credits earned by students in advanced placement courses who have successfully completed these courses and have also achieved proficient advanced placement test scores to satisfy these credits.

“If a high school student is taking advanced college level courses before graduation and has also achieved satisfactory AP test scores, I think it’s only fair that their hard work be recognized by giving them full credit for these courses once they enroll as a freshman in college,” said House Minority Leader Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “With families of college-age students facing large tuition bills, this policy change would help to ease some of their financial burden by giving students the opportunity to begin college with several credits already earned towards their degree.”

Amendment opponents said the Higher Education Committee has already approved a separate, more detailed measure that addresses advanced placement. They said the bill will eventually come before the full House and urged members to vote against this less comprehensive amendment and wait for the more detailed bill.

Rep. Dave Rogers (D-Cambridge), the House chair of the Higher Education Committee, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking him to explain his opposition to the amendment.

(A “Yes” vote is for the amendment. A “No” vote is against it.)

Rep. Christine Barber No Rep. Mike Connolly No Rep. Paul Donato No Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven No