New law requires college credit for AP scores of 3 or better

Illinois high schoolers will be more likely to get college credit for their advanced placement exams under legislation signed Thursday by Gov. Bruce Rauner.

The new law from state Sen. Carol Sente, a Vernon Hills Democrat, requires all Illinois public colleges and universities to give students college credit for an AP score of 3 or better. Sente said policies varied by school, and the new state law will clarify things.

“It was all over the map,” she said.

The law still allows each school to decide whether the student's credit counts toward major, general education or elective classes. She said the point of the new law is to try to help keep Illinois high schoolers at in-state schools, because other states already have similar rules on the books.

Rauner signed the proposal without public comment, but Sente gave credit for work on the plan to state Reps. Mike Fortner of West Chicago and Mark Batinick of Plainfield. State Sen. Tom Cullerton, a Villa Park Democrat, carried the plan in the Senate.