BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1191 89R4888 MM-D By: Creighton Education K-16 3/4/2025 As Filed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Inconsistent systems for weighting grade point averages across the State of Texas, as well as inconsistent systems for converting dual credit letter grades into numeric grades, discourage the taking of dual credit courses in many school districts. This reality directly conflicts with the goals of H.B. 8 (2023) in tying funding for higher education institutions to dual credit enrollment and credential completion. The Solution The State of Texas should require all school districts to award equal weight and numeric conversion for grades earned in all four major forms of advanced academics offered in high school: Dual Credit (college-credential-bearing credit); International Baccalaureate (college-level content); Advanced Placement (college-level content, with college credit awarded by exam score accepted by receiving institutions); and OnRamps (UT Extension-school credits which may be converted to credential-bearing credit by receiving institutions). As proposed, S.B. 1191 amends current law relating to the development of a standard method of computing a student's high school grade point average. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Sections 28.052(a) and (b), Education Code, as follows: (a) Requires, rather than authorizes, the commissioner of education (commissioner) to develop a standard method of computing a student's high school grade point average that provides for additional weight to be given to each honors course, advanced placement course, international baccalaureate course, or dual credit course completed by a student. Requires that the method provide for an equal amount of additional weight to be given to an advanced placement course, an international baccalaureate course, and a dual credit course. (b) Requires a school district to use the standard method developed by the commissioner under Subsection (a) to compute a student's high school grade point average. Deletes existing text requiring a school district, if the commissioner develops a standard method under Section 28.0252 (Computation of High School Grade Point Average), to use the standard method to compute a student's high school grade point average. SECTION 2. Requires the commissioner, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, to develop a standard method of computing a student's high school grade point average as required by Section 28.0252(a), Education Code, as amended by this Act. SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1191
89R4888 MM-D By: Creighton
Education K-16
3/4/2025
As Filed
Senate Research Center
S.B. 1191
89R4888 MM-D
By: Creighton
Education K-16
3/4/2025
As Filed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Inconsistent systems for weighting grade point averages across the State of Texas, as well as inconsistent systems for converting dual credit letter grades into numeric grades, discourage the taking of dual credit courses in many school districts. This reality directly conflicts with the goals of H.B. 8 (2023) in tying funding for higher education institutions to dual credit enrollment and credential completion.
The Solution
The State of Texas should require all school districts to award equal weight and numeric conversion for grades earned in all four major forms of advanced academics offered in high school:
Dual Credit (college-credential-bearing credit);
International Baccalaureate (college-level content);
Advanced Placement (college-level content, with college credit awarded by exam score accepted by receiving institutions); and
OnRamps (UT Extension-school credits which may be converted to credential-bearing credit by receiving institutions).
As proposed, S.B. 1191 amends current law relating to the development of a standard method of computing a student's high school grade point average.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Sections 28.052(a) and (b), Education Code, as follows:
(a) Requires, rather than authorizes, the commissioner of education (commissioner) to develop a standard method of computing a student's high school grade point average that provides for additional weight to be given to each honors course, advanced placement course, international baccalaureate course, or dual credit course completed by a student. Requires that the method provide for an equal amount of additional weight to be given to an advanced placement course, an international baccalaureate course, and a dual credit course.
(b) Requires a school district to use the standard method developed by the commissioner under Subsection (a) to compute a student's high school grade point average. Deletes existing text requiring a school district, if the commissioner develops a standard method under Section 28.0252 (Computation of High School Grade Point Average), to use the standard method to compute a student's high school grade point average.
SECTION 2. Requires the commissioner, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, to develop a standard method of computing a student's high school grade point average as required by Section 28.0252(a), Education Code, as amended by this Act.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.