The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (Coordinating Board or THECB) proposes amendments to §4.54, concerning the Texas Success Initiative (TSI), to incorporate into existing rules changes that address the college readiness benchmarks for the new College Board SAT examinations administered on or after March 5, 2016. Specifically, the amendment to §4.54(a)(1)(B), the TSI exemption for the SAT examinations, would add the college readiness benchmarks set by The College Board and would provide additional clarification of rule application.

R. Jerel Booker, J.D., Assistant Commissioner for College Readiness and Success, has determined that for each year of the first five years the section is in effect, there will not be any fiscal implications for state or local governments as a result of enforcing or administering the rule.

Mr. Booker has also determined that for each of the first five years the section is in effect, the public benefit anticipated as a result of administering the section will be consistent and clear application for TSI purposes of the college readiness benchmark for the new SAT examinations administered on or after March 5, 2016.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Jerel Booker, J.D., THECB, P.O. Box 12788, Austin, Texas 78711 or via email in care of Suzanne Morales-Vale, who may be reached at suzanne.morales-vale@thecb.state.tx.us. Comments will be accepted for 30 days following publication of the proposal in the Texas Register.

The amendments are proposed under Texas Education Code (TEC), §51.3062, which provides the THECB with the authority to establish policies and procedures relating to the TSI and §51.307, which provides the THECB with the authority to adopt and publish rules and regulations to effectuate the provisions of Chapter 51, Subchapter F of the TEC.

The amendments affect TEC, §51.3062.