BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1227

By: Taylor

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) is a rigorous credit-by-examination program that allows students from a wide range of ages and backgrounds to demonstrate mastery of introductory college-level material and earn college credit. The examinations are designed, developed, and approved by college and university faculty, and research consistently shows that students who score a 50 or higher on CLEP examinations experience greater academic success and improved college completion rates. S.B. 1227 seeks to ensure uniformity statewide in the credit-granting policies for CLEP examinations by prohibiting a public institution of higher education from requiring a score higher than the minimum score recommended by the American Council on Education for granting credit by examination, subject to a certain exception regarding prerequisites for advanced courses.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 1227 amends the Education Code to prohibit a public institution of higher education, in establishing the minimum required score on a CLEP examination for granting course credit for a particular lower-division course, from requiring a score higher than the minimum score recommended by the American Council on Education for that purpose unless the institution's chief academic officer determines, based on evidence, that a higher score is necessary to indicate sufficient preparation to succeed in a related, more advanced course for which the lower-division course is a prerequisite. This prohibition applies to entering freshman students beginning with the 2022 spring semester.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2021.