By: Ratliff H.B. No. 3228

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to procedures for credit by examination in public schools.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 28.023, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 28.023. CREDIT BY EXAMINATION. (a) Using guidelines established by the State Board of Education, a school district shall develop or select for board review examinations for acceleration for each primary school grade level and for credit for secondary school academic subjects. The guidelines must provide for the examinations to thoroughly test comprehension of the information presented in the applicable grade level or subject. The board shall approve examinations that satisfy board guidelines. Each district shall select, if available, at least four board-approved examinations for each subject. If approved by the board, the examinations selected by a district must include:

(1) advanced placement examinations administered by the College Board; and

(2) examinations administered through the College-Level Examination Program.

(b) A school district shall give a student in a primary grade level credit for a grade level and advance the student one grade level on the basis of a board-approved examination for acceleration if:

(1) the student scores in the 80th [90th] percentile or above on each section of the examination;

(2) a district representative recommends that the student be advanced; and

(3) the student's parent or guardian gives written approval of the advancement.

(c) A school district shall give a student in grade level six or above credit for a subject on the basis of a board-approved examination for credit in the subject if the student scores in the 80th [90th] percentile or above on the board-approved examination or if the student achieves a score as provided by Subsection (c-1). If a student is given credit in a subject on the basis of an examination, the district shall enter the examination score on the student's transcript.

(c-1) A school district shall give a student in grade level six or above credit for a subject if the student scores:

(1) a three or higher on a board-approved advanced placement examination administered by the College Board; or

(2) a 60 or higher on a board-approved examination administered through the College-Level Examination Program.

(d) Each district shall administer each board-approved examination selected by the district:

(1) not later than the 30th day after the date the district receives a written request from a student or the student's parent or guardian, if the examination is capable of being administered electronically; or

(2) not less than four times each [once a] year, at times to be determined by the State Board of Education, if the examination is not capable of being administered electronically.

(e) An examination administered under Subsection (d)(1) may not be administered to a student more than twice each year.

(f) A school district shall grant to a student who passes an appropriate examination in accordance with this section credit toward the academic course requirements for advancement to the next grade level or for high school graduation, as applicable.

(g) If a student has not passed an examination for credit for a particular course under this section before the beginning of the school year in which the student would ordinarily be enrolled in that course in accordance with the district's prescribed course sequence, the student must complete the course to receive credit and may not take the examination for credit for that course under this section.

SECTION 2. This changes in law made by this Act apply beginning with the 2013-2014 school year.

SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act supersede any other law to the extent of a conflict.

SECTION 4. 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, 2013.