84R7593 KJE-D
By: Seliger S.B. No. 1190
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the granting of undergraduate course credit by advanced
placement examination at public institutions of higher education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 51.968, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (c-1) to read as follows:
(c-1) In establishing the minimum required score on an
Advanced Placement examination for granting course credit under
Subsection (c), an institution of higher education may not require
a score of more than three unless the institution determines that
there is a compelling academic reason for requiring a higher score
on that examination or to receive credit for a particular course.
SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 61.0518 to read as follows:
Sec. 61.0518. STUDY ON UNDERGRADUATE COURSE CREDIT FOR
ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAMINATIONS. (a) In this section, "Advanced
Placement examination" has the meaning assigned by Section 51.968.
(b) Biennially, the board shall conduct a study on the
performance of undergraduate students at institutions of higher
education who receive undergraduate course credit for achieving
required scores on one or more Advanced Placement examinations.
(c) The study must compare the academic performance,
retention rates, and graduation rates at institutions of higher
education of students who receive course credit for a score of three
on an Advanced Placement examination and students who receive
course credit for a score of four or five on that examination.
(d) Each institution of higher education shall submit to the
board any data requested by the board as necessary for the board to
carry out its duties under this section.
(e) Not later than January 1 of each odd-numbered year, the
board shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the
speaker of the house of representatives, and the standing
legislative committees with primary jurisdiction over higher
education a report regarding the results of the study and any
recommendations for legislative or administrative action.
(f) The board shall adopt rules as necessary to implement
this section in a manner that ensures compliance with federal law
regarding confidentiality of student educational information,
including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20
U.S.C. Section 1232g).
SECTION 3. (a) Section 51.968(c-1), Education Code, as
added by this Act, applies to entering freshman students at
institutions of higher education beginning with the 2016 fall
semester.
(b) Not later than January 1, 2017, the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board shall submit its initial report
required by Section 61.0518(e), Education Code, as added by this
Act.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.