S.B. No. 111




AN ACT
relating to undergraduate course credit granted by public institutions of higher education to high school students and to the computation of the grade point average of high school students. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 28, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 28.0252 to read as follows: Sec. 28.0252. COMPUTATION OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADE POINT AVERAGE. (a) The commissioner may develop a standard method of computing a student's high school grade point average that provides for additional weight to be given to each honors course, advanced placement course, international baccalaureate course, or dual credit course completed by a student. (b) If the commissioner develops a standard method under this section, a school district shall use the standard method to compute a student's high school grade point average, and the student's grade point average computed in that manner shall be used in determining the student's eligibility for automatic college admission under Section 51.803. (b-1) Subsection (b) applies only to students entering grade nine during or after the 2007-2008 school year. This subsection expires September 1, 2010. (c) The commissioner may adopt rules necessary to implement this section. SECTION 2. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 51.968 to read as follows: Sec. 51.968. UNDERGRADUATE COURSE CREDIT FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS COMPLETING POSTSECONDARY-LEVEL PROGRAM. (a) In this section: (1) "Advanced Placement examination" means an examination administered through the Advanced Placement Program. (2) "CLEP examination" means an examination administered through the College-Level Examination Program. (3) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. (4) "Institution of higher education" means an institution of higher education, as defined by Section 61.003, that offers freshman-level courses. (5) "International Baccalaureate Diploma Program" means the curriculum and examinations leading to an International Baccalaureate diploma awarded by the International Baccalaureate Organization. (b) Each institution of higher education that offers freshman-level courses shall adopt and implement a policy to grant undergraduate course credit to entering freshman students who have successfully completed the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, who have achieved required scores on one or more examinations in the Advanced Placement Program or the College-Level Examination Program, or who have successfully completed one or more courses offered through concurrent enrollment in high school and at an institution of higher education. (c) In the policy, the institution shall: (1) establish the institution's conditions for granting course credit, including the minimum required scores on CLEP examinations, Advanced Placement examinations, and examinations for courses constituting the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program; and (2) based on the correlations identified under Subsection (f), identify the specific course credit or other academic requirements of the institution, including the number of semester credit hours or other course credit, that the institution will grant to a student who successfully completes the diploma program, who successfully completes a course through concurrent enrollment, or who achieves required scores on CLEP examinations or Advanced Placement examinations. (d) Each institution of higher education shall report to the coordinating board the institution's policy adopted under this section and shall include a copy of the policy with the institution's undergraduate student application materials, including application materials available on the institution's Internet website. (e) On request of an applicant for admission as an entering freshman, an institution of higher education, based on information provided by the applicant, shall determine and notify the applicant regarding: (1) the amount and type of any course credit that would be granted to the applicant under the policy; and (2) any other academic requirement that the applicant would satisfy under the policy. (f) The coordinating board, in consultation with the Texas Education Agency, shall: (1) identify correlations between the subject matter and content of courses offered by each institution of higher education and the subject matter and content of courses and examinations in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, the Advanced Placement Program, and the College-Level Examination Program; and (2) make that information available to the public on the coordinating board's Internet website. (g) Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, an institution of higher education shall grant at least 24 semester credit hours or equivalent course credit in appropriate subject areas to an entering freshman student for successful completion of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. The institution may grant fewer than 24 semester credit hours if the student received a score of less than four on an examination administered as part of the diploma program. The institution may grant fewer credit hours only with respect to courses that are substantially related to the subject of that examination. SECTION 3. Each public institution of higher education in this state shall: (1) not later than December 31, 2005, adopt and make available to students and the public and to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board the policy required by Section 51.968, Education Code, as added by this Act; and (2) implement the policy beginning with admissions to the institution for the 2006-2007 academic year. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.
______________________________ ______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 111 passed the Senate on March 17, 2005, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that the Senate concurred in House amendments on May 27, 2005, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 0. ______________________________ Secretary of the Senate I hereby certify that S.B. No. 111 passed the House, with amendments, on May 25, 2005, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House Approved: ______________________________ Date ______________________________ Governor