BILL ANALYSIS
By: Morrison
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The need for a standardized high school grade point average often arises in regard to admissions, financial eligibility and other student matters. The grade point scales used in Texas high schools can vary from 3.0 to 12.0 - there is no standardization.
Furthermore, there is a need to specifically promote the admission of undergraduate transfer students to a general academic teaching institution.
C.S.H.B. 3851 requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to establish a method for computing a high school grade point average, requires the annual report submitted by general academic teaching institutions to include grade point averages in the demographic breakdown describing the composition of the institution's entering class of students, and requires each general academic teaching institution to adopt a written admission policy to promote the admission of undergraduate transfer students to the institution.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the opinion of the committee that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in SECTION 2 and SECTION 5 of this bill.
ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 28.0252 (b), Education Code, to provide for any conflict with changes made in Section 51.807. Provides that a student's grade point average computed in accordance with the method established under Section 51.807 shall be used in determining the student's eligibility for university, rather than automatic college, admission under Subchapter U, Chapter 51, rather than Section 51.803.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 51.807, Education Code, as follows:
Sec. 51.807. RULEMAKING. (a) Provides that in order to ensure a uniform standard for admissions under this subchapter, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (board) shall adopt rules establishing a standard method for computing a student's high school grade point average, and in doing so, the method must be based on a four-point scale, must assign additional weight for certain courses, and may result in a student having a grade point average higher than 4.0 on a four-point scale as a result of the assignment of additional weight for one or more courses completed by a student under Subdivision (1) (B).
(b) Provides that the board may adopt other rules, rather than just rules, relating to the operation of admissions programs, including rules relating to the identification of eligible students, rather than relating to the identification of eligible students and the reporting requirements of Section 51.806.
(c) Provides that the standard method established under Subsection (a) applies for computing the grade point average of a student applying as a first-time freshman for admission to a general academic teaching institution beginning with admissions for the 2009 fall semester. Provides that this subsection expires January 1, 2010.
SECTION 3. Amends Section 51.4032, Education Code, as added by Chapter 694, Acts of the 79th Legislature, Regular Session, 2005, to require that the annual report that each general academic teaching institution and medical and dental unit submits to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board must include the high school grade point average in the demographic breakdown describing the composition of the institution's entering class of students. Makes a conforming change.
SECTION 4. Amends Section 51.808, Education Code, to require each general academic teaching institution to adopt a written admission policy to promote the admission of undergraduate transfer students to the institution. Requires the policy to provide for outreach and recruiting efforts directed at certain institutions and allows the policy to include certain incentives. Provides that a policy adopted under this section, rather than the policy, shall be published in the institution's or unit's catalog and made available to the public. Makes a conforming change.
SECTION 5. Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to adopt rules as required by Section 51.807, Education Code, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 6. Effective date.
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, 2007.
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
C.S.H.B. 3851 modifies the original to conform to Texas Legislative Council style and format, making certain technical and non-substantive changes to do so.