2015 Tennessee Code
Title 49 - Education
Chapter 7 - Postsecondary and Higher Education Generally
Part 1 - Miscellaneous Provisions
§ 49-7-155 - Dual credit courses.

(a) (1) When the consortium approves a dual credit class that is accepted for credit by a four-year institution of higher education in either the board of regents system or the University of Tennessee system, then, upon approval by the state board of education of the class's curriculum standards, any high school in the state may replicate the class. Dual credit shall be granted to a student by a four-year institution offering a program for which the class is designed, if the student completes the course and successfully passes the challenge examination with a score equal to or higher than the cut score required by the institution.

(2) When the consortium approves a dual credit class that is accepted for credit by a two-year institution of higher education in the board of regents system, then, upon approval by the state board of education of the class's curriculum standards, any high school in the state may replicate the class. Dual credit shall be granted to a student by a two-year institution offering a program for which the class is designed, if the student completes the course and successfully passes the challenge examination with a score equal to or higher than the cut score required by the institution.

(3) When the consortium approves a dual credit class that is accepted for credit by a Tennessee college of applied technology in the board of regents system, then, upon approval by the state board of education of the class's curriculum standards, any high school in the state may replicate the class. Dual credit shall be granted to a student by a Tennessee college of applied technology offering a program for which the class is designed, if the student completes the course and successfully passes the challenge examination with a score equal to or higher than the cut score required by the institution.

(4) Prior to the consortium approving a dual credit class, the consortium shall direct its representatives from the University of Tennessee and the board of regents to consult with faculty members who teach at institutions in the major or program for which the class is designed as to whether the approval of the class would have any negative consequences on the accreditation of the institution or the program. The representatives shall report concerns of the faculty members to the consortium within a reasonable time frame as set by the consortium. The consortium shall consider the report in making its determination as to approval of classes and cut scores.

(5) Any dual credit class designed and approved by the consortium under this section shall include a postsecondary challenge examination. The successful passing of a postsecondary challenge examination, with a score equal to or higher than the cut score determined by a receiving higher education institution, is a requirement for the award of postsecondary credit.

(6) The governing board of the higher education institutions shall assign common numbers for the courses for which statewide challenge examinations are developed under chapter 15 of this title.

(b) The high school at which the student takes the class shall record the completion of the class including the student's grade, the postsecondary challenge examination score and the course number assigned by the appropriate postsecondary governing board on the student's secondary transcript. Where common numbering of a course is indicated within the Tennessee transfer pathway that common number shall be used on the secondary transcript.

(c) Each higher education institution awarding the credit for a postsecondary class, based upon a challenge examination, may determine whether the class credit shall be accepted for credit toward a major or the requirements of a specific program or as an elective. A postsecondary institution may also set the cut score on the challenge examination results that is required for the award of credit in a major or a specific program or as an elective at the institution. Each higher education institution shall inform the consortium of its requirements for awarding dual credit in a major, a specific program or as an elective. The office of postsecondary coordination and alignment shall provide high schools offering the class with information specific to the acceptance of challenge examinations and of each postsecondary institution's requirement for the awarding of postsecondary credit within a major or as an elective. High schools shall disseminate the information to students taking the class.

(d) Any public institution of higher education may, at any time, request that the consortium review a dual credit class or a replicated class offered by a high school, if the institution perceives the class to possess deficiencies. The consortium shall review the class and work with the high school or high schools to alter the class to remove any deficiencies as the consortium determines to be in the best interests of strengthening the class. The consortium may also request that the class at a high school be withdrawn for the dual credit process until such deficiencies are corrected.

(e) Notwithstanding any provision of this part to the contrary, the consortium shall not approve an early postsecondary credit class if the class in any way affects the accreditation of the postsecondary institutions or their programs.

(f) The office of postsecondary coordination and alignment shall encourage LEAs throughout the state, including those in rural areas, to offer early postsecondary credit classes.