1-1 By: A. Smith of Harris (Senate Sponsor - Zaffirini) H.C.R. No. 68 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House April 22, 1993; 1-3 April 26, 1993, read first time and referred to Committee on 1-4 Education; May 6, 1993, reported favorably by the following vote: 1-5 Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 6, 1993, sent to printer.) 1-6 COMMITTEE VOTE 1-7 Yea Nay PNV Absent 1-8 Ratliff x 1-9 Haley x 1-10 Barrientos x 1-11 Bivins x 1-12 Harris of Tarrant x 1-13 Luna x 1-14 Montford x 1-15 Shapiro x 1-16 Sibley x 1-17 Turner x 1-18 Zaffirini x 1-19 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-20 WHEREAS, Education empowers Texas citizens to reach their 1-21 full potential for healthy and productive living through increased 1-22 skills and knowledge; and 1-23 WHEREAS, Texas' economic development and ability to compete 1-24 with other states and nations in the future will depend on 1-25 increased skills and knowledge among the state's workers; and 1-26 WHEREAS, Public higher education is responsible and 1-27 accountable for providing the needed skills and knowledge to all 1-28 citizens of the state; and 1-29 WHEREAS, Many high school graduates entering institutions of 1-30 higher education in Texas have not completed courses that 1-31 adequately prepare them for college-level work; and 1-32 WHEREAS, Underprepared first-time students in Texas public 1-33 institutions of higher education must complete remedial studies 1-34 before taking college-level courses; and 1-35 WHEREAS, The commissioner of education has publicly stated 1-36 that university admission standards drive students' selection of 1-37 courses in high school; and 1-38 WHEREAS, The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has 1-39 endorsed the State Board of Education's "College Proficiency 1-40 Specialization," which is a college preparatory curriculum for 1-41 high school students, to ensure better preparation for college by 1-42 high school students; and 1-43 WHEREAS, Public community and technical colleges in Texas are 1-44 open admission institutions ensuring access to higher education for 1-45 all people in the state; and 1-46 WHEREAS, Public four-year universities in Texas maintain 1-47 varied admission standards, but none equivalent to or more 1-48 stringent than the "College Proficiency Specialization"; now, 1-49 therefore, be it 1-50 RESOLVED, That the 73rd Legislature of the State of Texas 1-51 hereby express its expectation that Texas public universities use 1-52 the "College Proficiency Specialization" as a model for minimum 1-53 admission standards for students entering those institutions by 1-54 academic year 2005 and thereafter; and, be it further 1-55 RESOLVED, That, while changing admission standards, the Texas 1-56 Legislature expects all universities to continue to strive for 1-57 meeting the goals of the Texas Educational Opportunity Plan for 1-58 Higher Education. 1-59 * * * * * 1-60 Austin, 1-61 Texas 1-62 May 6, 1993 1-63 Hon. Bob Bullock 1-64 President of the Senate 1-65 Sir: 1-66 We, your Committee on Education to which was referred H.C.R. 1-67 No. 68, have had the same under consideration, and I am instructed 1-68 to report it back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do 2-1 pass and be printed. 2-2 Ratliff, 2-3 Chairman 2-4 * * * * * 2-5 WITNESSES