H 4407 requires Massachusetts public colleges and universities to establish clear, written policies for granting college credit to high school students who earn qualifying scores on Advanced Placement exams, complete International Baccalaureate programs, or take dual enrollment courses. These policies must specify minimum score requirements, how credit applies toward degree requirements (e.g., general education or major courses), and how credits transfer between institutions, with all policies posted online for transparency. The state Department of Higher Education will review these policies every three years and report findings to the legislature. The bill also creates an Office of Early College to oversee statewide early college programs, which are partnerships between high schools and colleges allowing students to earn college credit while still in high school.
By Mr. Crighton, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 923) of Brendan P. Crighton and Manny Cruz for legislation relative to college credits while attending high school. Higher Education.
By Representative Scanlon of North Attleborough, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1456) of Adam J. Scanlon relative to community colleges and the career technical initiative. Higher Education.
This bill creates a Green and Healthy Public College and University Building Planning Commission to assess and improve energy efficiency, indoor air quality, accessibility, and safety in all public higher education buildings across Massachusetts. The commission, including representatives from universities, labor groups, health and environmental organizations, must develop standards by 2028 and create a plan to ensure all public college/university buildings meet these standards by 2037. It requires public reporting through an online dashboard tracking building assessments and prioritizes renovations for facilities serving underserved communities or with the greatest health/safety needs. The bill also establishes a dedicated fund to finance these upgrades using state appropriations, grants, and other sources, with cost-benefit analyses comparing long-term savings to upfront investments.
This bill allows Massachusetts community colleges to apply for state grant funding through the Career Technical Initiative. It enables colleges to create evening courses for adult learners in technical and trade fields, leading to industry-recognized certifications. Community college career technical programs must meet the same approval standards as those in vocational schools and be included in all initiative reports. The bill directly affects community colleges and adult learners seeking credentials in technical careers.
This bill (HD 151) directs Massachusetts' Department of Higher Education to review whether public colleges should require standardized tests like the SAT or ACT for undergraduate admission. The review must examine testing trends in Massachusetts and other states, the tests' accuracy in measuring college readiness, evidence of bias, and impacts on student diversity (including race, income, and first-generation status). The department must consult with educators, students, experts, and advocacy groups, then publish findings and submit a report to key legislative committees within one year. The bill does not change current admission policies but mandates a study to inform future decisions.
SD 38 bans legacy preferences in Massachusetts public higher education admissions. It prohibits public universities (including the University of Massachusetts and state universities) and degree-granting institutions in the Commonwealth from considering an applicant's familial relationship to a graduate when making admission decisions. The bill also requires institutions to remove any mention of relatives' college attendance from admission documents. These changes take effect for the 2026-2027 school year. The policy directly affects applicants to these institutions by eliminating a factor that previously gave preference to students with family ties to alumni.
HD 357 freezes tuition and fees at public colleges and universities at the 2022-2023 level. It applies directly to students attending public institutions of higher education defined in the bill (including all state universities and colleges). The freeze begins for the 2025-2026 academic year and ends at the conclusion of the 2029-2030 academic year. This policy change prevents public colleges from raising tuition or fees above the 2022-2023 rate during this specified period.
This bill requires all Massachusetts public colleges and universities to accept Advanced Placement (AP) exam scores of 3, 4, or 5 for college credit toward degree requirements. Institutions may only require a higher score (e.g., 4 or 5) if the chief academic officer provides evidence it is necessary for success in related courses, and must post all credit policies online. Public institutions must submit these policies to the state department of higher education, which will post them on its website. The board of higher education will annually review these policies and report findings to the legislature by July 1, starting in 2025.
This bill amends a section of state law governing community college training programs. It updates the legal description to explicitly include "credit-bearing" courses alongside existing "not-for-credit" options within the Community College Training Incentive Program. The change clarifies that the program can now support courses that count toward academic credits, not just non-credit training. This is a technical language update to the program's definition, not a change to program funding or eligibility. The bill affects community colleges offering training programs under this specific incentive.
