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.