Requires Secretary of Higher Education to establish standards for assessing and awarding academic credit for prior learning.

A2119

ASSEMBLY, No. 2119

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman LINDA S. CARTER

District 22 (Somerset and Union)

Assemblywoman VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

SYNOPSIS

���� Requires Secretary of Higher Education to establish
standards for assessing and awarding academic credit for prior learning.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative
Counsel.

��

An Act

concerning academic credit at public
institutions of higher education and supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey
Statutes.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� a.� The Secretary of
Higher Education, in consultation with the New Jersey Prior Learning Assessment
Network, the New Jersey Presidents� Council, the Commissioner of Labor and
Workforce Development, and the Center for Career Relevant Education and Talent
Evaluation of New Jersey, shall establish standards for assessing and awarding
academic credit for prior learning at public institutions of higher education.

���� b.� The standards shall
include policies and procedures for the:

���� (1)� assessment of prior
learning completed by a student including, but not limited to: Advanced
Placement and College Level Examination Program assessments; validated
workforce learning; industry-valued credentials; institutionally-conducted
examinations; and portfolio assessments;

���� (2)� awarding of academic
credit for prior learning completed by a student, including a minimum limit of
prior learning credits that a public institution of higher education shall be
required to accept;

���� (3)� transfer of credits
awarded based on prior learning completed by a student between public
institutions of higher education;

���� (4)� implementation of an
appeals process for students and public institutions of higher education to
resolve disputes regarding the assessment and awarding of academic credit for
prior learning;

���� (5)� annual review and update
of the standards; and

���� (6)� collection of data by the
secretary to ensure that all participating institutions of higher education are
in compliance with the provisions of this act and to ensure the standards are
fostering the academic success of students.

���� c.� A public institution of
higher education may establish a maximum limit of academic credits for prior
learning that may be applied towards an associate or baccalaureate degree
awarded by the institution, except that the maximum limit shall be no less than
any limit of prior learning academic credits established by the secretary
pursuant to subsection b. of this section. The limit established by the
secretary shall not jeopardize the accreditation status of any institution of
higher education, or of any academic program of an institution.

���� 2.��� a.� Each public
institution of higher education shall establish a policy for assessing and
awarding academic credit for prior learning that is consistent with the
standards established pursuant to section 1 of this act. This requirement may
be satisfied, among other ways, through the establishment of:

���� (1) a credit reciprocity
agreement with Thomas Edison State University;

���� (2) a partnership between the
public institution of higher education and� Thomas Edison State University
wherein� Thomas Edison State University� is to assess and recommend the award
of academic� credit for prior learning on behalf of the public institution of
higher education;

���� (3) or a partnership between a
public institution of higher education and� a qualified� third party wherein
the third party is to assess and recommend the award of academic credit for
prior learning on behalf of the public institution of higher education.�

���� b.� An independent institution
of higher education may elect to establish a policy for assessing and awarding
academic credit for prior learning that is consistent with the standards
established pursuant to section 1 of this act.

���� 3.��� a.� A public institution
of higher education, or any other institution or organization conducting a
prior learning assessment on behalf of a public institution of higher
education, may charge a nominal fee for an assessment� to cover the
administrative costs incurred during the assessment.

���� b.� A public institution of
higher education shall not charge the per-credit tuition rate of the
institution for prior learning credits awarded pursuant to section 2 of this
act.

���� 4.��� The Secretary of Higher
Education shall submit an annual report to the Governor, and to the Legislature
pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), containing the data
collected pursuant to paragraph (6) of subsection b. of section 1 of this act,
an analysis of the effect of the standards on the academic success of students
enrolled in public institutions of higher education, and an analysis of each
participating institution�s compliance with the provisions of this act.

���� 5.��� Nothing in this act
shall be construed to require any institution of higher education to admit a
student or to waive its admission standards and application procedures.

���� 6. This act shall take effect
immediately and shall first apply to the first full academic year next
following the date of enactment.

STATEMENT

���� This bill requires the
Secretary of Higher Education to establish standards for assessing and awarding
academic credit for prior learning at public institutions of higher education.

���� Under the bill, the standards
are to include policies and procedures for the: (1) assessment of prior
learning completed by a student including: Advanced Placement and College Level
Examination Program assessments; validated workforce learning; industry-valued
credentials; institutionally-conducted examinations; and portfolio assessments;
(2) awarding of academic credit for prior learning completed by a student, including
a minimum limit of prior learning credits that a public institution of higher
education shall be required to accept; (3) transfer of credits awarded based on
prior learning completed by a student between public institutions of higher
education; (4) implementation of an appeals process for students and public
institutions of higher education to resolve disputes regarding the assessment
and awarding of academic credit for prior learning; (5) annual review and
update of the standards; and (6) collection of data by the secretary to ensure
that all participating institutions of higher education are in compliance with
the provisions of the bill and to ensure the standards are fostering the
academic success of students.

���� Additionally, the bill permits
a public institution of higher education to establish a maximum limit of
academic credits for prior learning that may be applied towards an associate or
baccalaureate degree awarded by the institution, except that the maximum limit
shall be no less than any limit of prior learning academic credits established
by the secretary.

���� Pursuant to the bill, each
public institution of higher education is required to establish a policy for
assessing and awarding academic credit for prior learning that is consistent
with the standards established by the secretary. This requirement may be satisfied
through the establishment of: (1) a credit reciprocity agreement with Thomas
Edison State University; (2) a partnership between the public institution of
higher education and Thomas Edison State University wherein Thomas Edison State
University is to assess and recommend the award of academic credit for prior
learning on behalf of the public institution of higher education; or (3) a
partnership between a public institution of higher education and a qualified
third party wherein the third party is to assess and recommend the award of
academic credit for prior learning on behalf of the public institution. The
bill permits an independent institution of higher education to establish a
policy consistent with the standards.

���� Finally, the bill stipulates
that a public institution of higher education, or any other institution or
organization conducting a prior learning assessment on behalf of a public
institution of higher education, may charge a nominal fee for an assessment of
prior learning to cover the administrative costs incurred during the assessment
and prohibits an institution from charging the per-credit tuition rate of the
institution for prior learning credits awarded pursuant to the provisions of
the bill.