(a) For the purpose of demonstrating exemption under
subsection (b) of this section, the Board shall ensure that the passing
standard on each approved assessment meets the college readiness standard
under §4.57(a) of this subchapter (relating to Texas Success
Initiative Assessment College Readiness Standards).
(b) A student who achieves the passing standard on
an assessment as set out in this subsection shall be deemed exempt
from the requirements of the Texas Success Initiative. An institution
shall not require an exempt student to provide any additional demonstration
of college readiness and shall allow an exempt student to enroll in
an entry-level academic course as defined in §4.53(13) of this
title (relating to Definitions). The following figure contains the
full list of assessments, minimum required scores, and eligible exemptions.
Attached Graphic
(1) For a period of five (5) years from the date of
testing, a student who is tested and performs at or above the following
standards that cannot be raised by institutions:
(A) ACT. A student who has achieved the applicable
standard under this subsection shall be deemed exempt under this subchapter.
(i) ACT administered prior to February 15, 2023: composite
score of 23 with a minimum of 19 on the English test shall be exempt
for both the reading and writing sections of the TSI Assessment, and/or
19 on the mathematics test shall be exempt for the mathematics section
of the TSI Assessment.
(ii) ACT administered on or after February 15, 2023:
a combined score of 40 on the English and Reading (E+R) tests shall
be exempt for both reading and writing or ELAR sections of the TSI
Assessment. A score of 22 on the mathematics test shall be exempt
for the mathematics section of the TSI Assessment. There is no composite
score.
(iii) The use of scores from both the ACT administered
prior to February 15, 2023, and the ACT administered after February
15, 2023, is allowable, as long as the benchmarks set forth in clause
(ii) of this subparagraph are met.
(B) SAT. A student who has achieved the applicable
standard under this subsection shall be deemed exempt under this subchapter.
(i) SAT administered on or after March 5, 2016: a minimum
score of 480 on the Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) test
shall be exempt for both reading and writing sections of the TSI Assessment.
A minimum score of 530 on the mathematics test shall be exempt for
the mathematics section of the TSI Assessment. There is no minimum
combined EBRW and mathematics score.
(ii) Mixing or combining scores from the SAT administered
prior to March 5, 2016, and the SAT administered on or after March
5, 2016, is not allowable.
(C) GED: minimum score of 165 on the Mathematical Reasoning
subject test shall be exempt for the mathematics section of the TSI
Assessment. A minimum score of 165 on the Reasoning Through Language
Arts (RLA) subject test shall be exempt for the English Language Arts
Reading (ELAR) section of the TSI Assessment.
(D) HiSET: minimum score of 15 on the Mathematics subtest
shall be used to determine exemption on the mathematics section of
the TSI Assessment. A minimum score of 15 on the Reading subtest and
a minimum score of 15 on the Writing subtest, including a minimum
score of 4 on the essay, shall be exempt for the English Language
Arts Reading (ELAR) section of the TSI Assessment.
(E) STAAR End of Course Test. A student who achieves
a minimum score of 4000 on STAAR English III EOC shall be exempt for
both reading and writing. A student who achieves a minimum score of
4000 on STAAR Algebra II EOC shall be exempt from mathematics.
(c) A student who has met one of the following criteria
shall be exempt from the requirements of the Texas Success Initiative
for the respective content area in which they have demonstrated college
readiness. The following chart contains the full list of course and
program completions and eligible exemptions.
Attached Graphic
(1) A student who successfully completes a college
preparatory course under Texas Education Code, §28.014, is exempt
for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the date of high school
graduation with respect to the content area of the course, under the
following conditions:
(A) The student enrolls in the student's first college-level
course in the exempted content area in the student's first year of
enrollment in an institution of higher education; and
(B) The student enrolls at the institution of higher
education:
(i) that partnered with the school district in which
the student is enrolled to provide the course, or
(ii) with an institution that deems the student TSI-met
based on the completion of a course that meets the requirements of
subsection (c)(1) of this section.
(2) A student who has previously enrolled in any public,
private, or independent institution of higher education or an accredited
out-of-state institution of higher education and:
(A) has met college readiness standards in mathematics,
reading, or writing as determined by the receiving institution, or
(B) who has satisfactorily completed college-level
coursework in mathematics, reading, or writing with a grade of 'C'
or better, including a high school student who has earned college
credit for a dual credit course or a course offered under §4.86
of this chapter (relating to Optional Dual Credit or Dual Enrollment
Program: College Connect Courses), with a grade of 'C' or better.
(3) A student who has earned the Texas First Diploma
under chapter 21, subchapter D of this title (relating to Texas First
Early High School Completion Program).
(d) An institution may exempt a non-degree-seeking
or non-certificate-seeking student not otherwise exempt under this
section.
(e) In accordance with the requirements of this subchapter,
an institution shall not require a student who is exempt in mathematics,
reading, and/or writing or to whom this subchapter is inapplicable
under §4.52 of this subchapter (relating to Applicability) to
be assessed under this subchapter or to enroll in developmental coursework
or interventions in the corresponding area of exemption. This limitation
does not restrict an institution from advising a student to complete
additional coursework or interventions to increase the likelihood
of the student's success in completing the courses and program in
which the student enrolls.
(f) ESOL Waiver--An institution may grant a temporary
waiver from the assessment required under this title for students
with demonstrated limited English proficiency in order to provide
appropriate ESOL/ESL coursework and interventions. The waiver must
be removed after the student attempts 15 credit hours of developmental
ESOL coursework at a public junior college, public technical institute,
or public state college; nine (9) credit hours of developmental ESOL
coursework at a general academic teaching institution; or prior to
enrolling in entry-level academic coursework, whichever comes first,
at which time the student would be assessed by the institution with
a Board-approved instrument as defined by §4.56 of this subchapter
(relating to Texas Success Initiative Assessment Instrument). Funding
limits as defined in Texas Education Code, §51.340, for developmental
education still apply.
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