BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1191

By: Creighton

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill sponsor has informed the committee that there are inconsistencies in the calculation of high school grade point averages (GPA), particularly in weighted courses, as some public school districts provide additional weight for advanced placement courses but assign different values to international baccalaureate and dual credit courses, potentially disadvantaging students who choose these academic pathways by impacting class rankings, college admissions, and scholarship eligibility. S.B. 1191 seeks to address this issue and ensure fairness and consistency in the calculation of high school GPAs across Texas by, among other provisions, requiring the commissioner of education to develop a standard method of computing a student's high school GPA, and requiring that standard method to provide for an equal amount of additional weight to be given to an advanced placement course, an international baccalaureate course, an OnRamps dual enrollment course, and a dual credit course.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 1191 amends the Education Code to replace the provision granting the commissioner of education the discretion to develop a standard method of computing a student's high school grade point average that provides for additional weight to be given to each honors course, advanced placement course, international baccalaureate course, or dual credit course completed by a student with a requirement that the commissioner develop such a method. Additionally, the bill includes an OnRamps dual enrollment course among the courses completed by a student for which the method must provide for additional weight to be given. The bill requires that the method provide for an equal amount of additional weight to be given to an advanced placement course, an international baccalaureate course, an OnRamps dual enrollment course, and a dual credit course and clarifies that a public school district must use that standard method.

S.B. 1191 requires the commissioner, as soon as practicable after the bill's effective date, to develop a standard method of computing a student's high school grade point average as required under these provisions.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.