By: Duncan, Patrick S.B. No. 1365
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the provision of credit by examination for public
  school students.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 25.092, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (a-2) to read as follows:
         (a-2)  Subsection (a) does not apply to a student who
  receives credit by examination for a class as provided by Section
  28.023.
         SECTION 2.  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 and the student is not required to take an
  end-of-course assessment instrument adopted under Section
  39.023(c) for that subject.
         (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 scaled score of 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 fewer [less] than three 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)  Examinations administered under Subsection (d)(1) may
  not be administered to a student more than two times each year.
         (f)  A student may not attempt more than two times to receive
  credit for a particular subject on the basis of a board-approved
  examination for credit in that subject.
         SECTION 3.  This Act applies beginning with the 2013-2014
  school year.
         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.