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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the admission of high school graduates and |
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undergraduate transfer students to certain institutions of higher |
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education, the computation of a student's high school grade point |
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average for purposes of determining eligibility for admission, and |
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policies to promote the admission of undergraduate transfer |
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students. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 28.0252(b), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) If the commissioner develops a standard method under |
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this section, a school district shall use the standard method to |
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compute a student's high school grade point average, except that to |
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the extent of a conflict between that method and the method adopted |
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under Section 51.807, [and] the student's grade point average |
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computed in accordance with the method established under Section |
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51.807 [that manner] shall be used in determining the student's |
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eligibility for university [automatic college] admission under |
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Subchapter U, Chapter 51 [Section 51.803]. |
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SECTION 2. Section 51.807, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.807. RULEMAKING. (a) To ensure a uniform standard |
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for admissions under this subchapter, the [The] Texas Higher |
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Education Coordinating Board shall adopt rules establishing a |
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standard method for computing a student's high school grade point |
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average. The method established under this subsection: |
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(1) must: |
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(A) be based on a four-point scale; and |
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(B) assign additional weight, as the board |
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considers appropriate, for each honors course, advanced placement |
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course, international baccalaureate course, or dual credit course |
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completed by a student; and |
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(2) may result in a student having a grade point |
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average higher than 4.0 on a four-point scale as a result of the |
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assignment of additional weight for one or more courses completed |
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by a student under Subdivision (1)(B). |
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(b) The board may adopt other rules relating to the |
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operation of admissions programs under this subchapter, including |
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rules relating to the identification of eligible students [and the
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reporting requirements of Section 51.806]. |
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(c) The standard method established under Subsection (a) |
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for computing a student's high school grade point average applies |
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to computing the grade point average of a student applying as a |
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first-time freshman for admission to a general academic teaching |
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institution beginning with admissions for the 2009 fall semester. |
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This subsection expires January 1, 2010. |
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SECTION 3. Section 51.4032, Education Code, as added by |
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Chapter 694, Acts of the 79th Legislature, Regular Session, 2005, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.4032. ANNUAL REPORT OF PARTICIPATION IN HIGHER |
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EDUCATION. Not later than July 31 of each year and in the form |
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prescribed by the coordinating board, each general academic |
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teaching institution and medical and dental unit as defined in |
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Section 61.003 shall provide to the Texas Higher Education |
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Coordinating Board a report describing the composition of the |
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institution's entering class of students. The report must include |
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a demographic breakdown of the class, including a breakdown by |
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race, ethnicity, [and] economic status, and high school grade point |
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average. A report submitted by a general academic teaching |
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institution or medical and dental unit as defined in Section 61.003 |
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must include separate demographic breakdowns of the students |
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admitted under Sections 51.803, 51.804, and 51.805. |
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SECTION 4. Section 51.808, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.808. APPLICATION OF ADMISSION CRITERIA TO OTHER |
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PROGRAMS. (a) Each general academic teaching institution or |
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medical and dental unit that offers admissions to undergraduate |
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transfer students or admissions to a graduate, postgraduate, or |
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professional program shall [also] adopt a written admission policy |
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applicable to those programs. |
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(b) Each general academic teaching institution shall adopt |
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a written admission policy to promote the admission of |
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undergraduate transfer students to the institution. The policy |
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must provide for outreach and recruiting efforts directed at junior |
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colleges and other lower-division institutions of higher education |
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and may include incentives to encourage transfer applications and |
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to retain and promote transfer students. |
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(c) A [The] policy adopted under this section shall be |
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published in the institution's or unit's catalog and made available |
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to the public. |
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SECTION 5. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board |
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shall adopt rules as required by Section 51.807, Education Code, as |
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amended by this Act, as soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |
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