| TO: | Honorable Judith Zaffirini, Chair, Senate Committee on Higher Education |
| FROM: | John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | SB1564 by West (Relating to developmental education courses and the assessment of student readiness under the Texas Success Initiative for public institutions of higher education.), As Introduced |
This bill would prohibit an institution of higher education from adopting more stringent standards to assess a student's readiness to perform freshman-level academic coursework than those adopted by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). The bill would also require institutions to offer a student required to enroll in developmental education coursework the option of enrolling in developmental education coursework as an online course or through other technology. Students who served or are currently serving in the military would no longer be exempt from developmental education coursework if college-readiness standards have not been met.
This bill would require institutions to base developmental education coursework on research-based best practices that include the following components: 1) assessment; 2) differentiated placement and instruction; 3) faculty development; 4) support services; 5) program evaluation, including effectiveness and cost-efficiency; 6) integration of technology with an emphasis on instructional support; 7) non-course based interventions; and 8) pairing developmental coursework with credit bearing courses. Institutions would also be required to provide professional development programs, including instruction in differentiated instruction methods designed to address student's diverse learning needs for developmental education faculty and staff.
To determine if a student is ready to perform freshman-level academic coursework, the bill would require students to retake a board-approved assessment instrument. This bill also repeals Section 51.3062(e) of the Education Code which allows the THECB to use additional assessment instruments to measure college readiness.
The bill would change the limit on semester credit hours funded by state appropriations from 18 to 9 hours at four-year institutions and from 27 to 18 at two-year institutions. If the provisions of the bill decreased the number of hours that are fundable through the formulas for community colleges and general academic institutions, the Legislature could reduce General Revenue formula funds. However, the Legislature could also decide to keep the same amount of General Revenue funds in the formulas.
| Source Agencies: | 720 The University of Texas System Administration, 758 Texas State University System, 768 Texas Tech University System Administration, 769 University of North Texas System Administration, 781 Higher Education Coordinating Board, 783 University of Houston System Administration, 710 Texas A&M University System Administrative and General Offices
|
| LBB Staff: | JOB, KK, JI, SDE, RT, GO
|