S.B. No. 1365
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 by the district board of
trustees 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 of trustees shall approve for each
subject, to the extent available, at least four examinations that
satisfy State Board of Education [board] guidelines. The
examinations approved by the board of trustees must include:
(1) advanced placement examinations developed 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 an [a board-approved] examination for
acceleration approved by the board of trustees under Subsection (a)
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 an [a
board-approved] examination for credit in the subject approved by
the board of trustees under Subsection (a) if the student scores in
the 80th [90th] percentile or above on the 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 an advanced placement
examination approved by the board of trustees under Subsection (a)
and developed by the College Board; or
(2) a scaled score of 60 or higher on an examination
approved by the board of trustees under Subsection (a) and
administered through the College-Level Examination Program.
(d) Each district shall administer each examination
approved by the board of trustees under Subsection (a) not fewer
[less] than four times each [once a] year, at times to be determined
by the State Board of Education.
(e) Subsection (d) does not apply to an examination that has
an administration date that is established by an entity other than
the school district.
(f) A student may not attempt more than two times to receive
credit for a particular subject on the basis of an examination for
credit in that subject.
(g) If a student fails to achieve the designated score
described by Subsection (c) or (c-1) on an applicable examination
described by Subsection (c) or (c-1) for a subject before the
beginning of the school year in which the student would ordinarily
be required to enroll in a course in that subject in accordance with
the school district's prescribed course sequence, the student must
satisfactorily complete the course to receive credit for the
course.
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.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1365 passed the Senate on
April 15, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that
the Senate concurred in House amendments on May 23, 2013, by the
following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1365 passed the House, with
amendments, on May 17, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 138,
Nays 2, four present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor