H.B. 944 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 944
By: King
Higher Education
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Texas is home to many well qualified applicants, but due to such
discrepancies in admission standards, many universities demand higher
scores, GED requirements, and additional tests above and beyond what is
expected from the traditional education backgrounds. 

There are varying degrees of standards consistently applied by different
institutions of higher education for private and home school applicants
compared to their traditionally educated counterparts.  For example, at
the University of Texas applicants are required to show proficiency in
three SAT-II subject areas (mathematics, writing, and a third test of
their own choice); a copy of GED results, if available, and a written
statement of education goals to be submitted with the application. 
 
At the University of Houston, accredited school graduates with a GPA as
low as 2.5 may be accepted with an 820 SAT score or an 18 ACT score.
Unaccredited school graduates are required to have a minimum 1100 SAT
score or 26 ACT score and an individual review. 

At North Texas University, an unaccredited school graduate is placed in
the individual review process along with accredited school graduates, in
the 4th quarter of their graduating class.   

Home school graduates score consistently 5% above the national average on
the ACT college entrance exam and Texas home school graduates matched
those numbers in 2001 reports.  They also score 80 points above the
national average on the SAT college entrance exam.   These graduates
taking the ACT college entrance exam have increased by almost 300 percent
since 1997.   

In 1998, the Texas Administrative Code dealing with the Texas Workforce
Commission and admission into proprietary schools {Section 807.2(21)} was
modified to define secondary education as "successful completion of
public, private or home schooling at the high school level or obtainment
of a recognized high school equivalency credential." 

In 2001, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board issued a memorandum
to all colleges and universities in Texas to explain that home school
graduates are eligible for Texas grants and scholarships. 

Under current law, Texas junior colleges  must authorize dual credit
courses to private school students on the same basis as public school
students. 

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

HB 944 amends Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, by adding Section
51.9241 to provide that because the State of Texas considers successful
completion of a nontraditional secondary education to be the equivalent to
graduating from a public high school, an institution of higher education
must treat an individual who has applied for undergraduate admission to
the institution, and  who presents evidence of successful completion of a
nontraditional secondary education,  according to the same general
standards as other applicants for undergraduate admission who have
graduated from a public high school.  The bill provides definitions for an
"institution of higher education," and a "nontraditional secondary
education." 

HB 944 prohibits an institution of higher education from requiring a
person who has applied for undergraduate admission to the institution and
who has presented evidence of having completed a nontraditional secondary
education to obtain or submit evidence that the person has obtained a
general education development certificate (GED), certificate of high
school equivalency, or other credentials equivalent to a high school
degree; or take an examination or comply with any other application or
admission requirement not generally applicable to other applicants for
undergraduate admission to the university. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of
all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article
III, Texas Constitution.  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary
for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2003.