Credit for Prior Learning Act

This bill, known as the "Credit for Prior Learning Act," seeks to enhance college affordability by enabling students to utilize federal financial aid for prior learning assessments. It amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to incorporate an allowance for these costs into the calculation of a student's overall cost of attendance. This crucial change aims to remove financial barriers for students looking to convert their existing knowledge and skills into academic credit. Specifically, the legislation establishes an allowance of up to $2,000 per award year , subject to inflation adjustments, for reasonable expenses related to eligible prior learning assessments. An eligible credit for prior learning assessment is defined as an evaluation of knowledge or skills acquired outside of traditional higher education, which assesses learning rather than just experience, adheres to generally accepted criteria, and results in the award of academic credit without requiring additional coursework. Furthermore, the bill mandates that accrediting agencies, during their review processes, confirm that institutions maintain sufficient and publicly disclosed standards for assessing prior learning. It also introduces new transparency requirements, obligating institutions to report data on students receiving credit for prior learning, disaggregated by race, income, and status as a Federal Pell Grant recipient. These provisions collectively aim to standardize, improve the quality, and increase the accessibility of prior learning opportunities for students.