BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 203 89R4584 CMO-D By: Menndez Education K-16 4/30/2025 As Filed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT In many schools across the state, disclosure of class rank each semester fosters an atmosphere of stress and pressure around education. This negatively impacts students' mental health, encourages a harmful emphasis on one's GPA rather than genuine learning, and hurts peer relations in a highly competitive environment. The emphasis on rankings shifts a student's mindset from being actively engaged in the learning environment and understanding the content in their classes to just receiving a "good grade." For some students, the early acknowledgement of their class rank influences the courses they decide to take. For example, a student may opt for classes that will assist in boosting their class rank over taking courses they may find interest in. This often stems from the pressures a student may face in order to secure a scholarship or to achieve automatic admission to Texas public universities, which prioritize top-ranking students. As the student matures, this ranking system has less harmful impacts and becomes a tool for healthy competition, with educators noting this shift around 11th grade. S.B. 203 will restrict school districts from disclosing numerical class ranks for students under the 11th grade. It will also allow for students to gain access to class rankings for any reasonable need, such as for scholarships, academic programs, or any opportunity that requires the numerical rank be given. As proposed, S.B. 203 amends current law relating to the disclosure of a public school student's numerical class rank. 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 Subchapter B, Chapter 28, Education Code, by adding Section 28.02521, as follows: Sec. 28.02521. DISCLOSURE OF CLASS RANKINGS. (a) Prohibits a school district, notwithstanding any other law, from disclosing the numerical class rank of a student until the student enters the 11th grade. Authorizes a school district to disclose the numerical class rank of a student in a grade below the 11th grade who demonstrates a reasonable need to know the student's numerical class rank, including for purposes of applying to an academic program that requires disclosure of the student's numerical class rank. (b) Authorizes a school district to disclose a student's grade point average and percentile rank at any time. SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 20252026 school year. SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 203
89R4584 CMO-D By: Menndez
Education K-16
4/30/2025
As Filed
Senate Research Center
S.B. 203
89R4584 CMO-D
By: Menndez
Education K-16
4/30/2025
As Filed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
In many schools across the state, disclosure of class rank each semester fosters an atmosphere of stress and pressure around education. This negatively impacts students' mental health, encourages a harmful emphasis on one's GPA rather than genuine learning, and hurts peer relations in a highly competitive environment.
The emphasis on rankings shifts a student's mindset from being actively engaged in the learning environment and understanding the content in their classes to just receiving a "good grade." For some students, the early acknowledgement of their class rank influences the courses they decide to take. For example, a student may opt for classes that will assist in boosting their class rank over taking courses they may find interest in. This often stems from the pressures a student may face in order to secure a scholarship or to achieve automatic admission to Texas public universities, which prioritize top-ranking students. As the student matures, this ranking system has less harmful impacts and becomes a tool for healthy competition, with educators noting this shift around 11th grade.
S.B. 203 will restrict school districts from disclosing numerical class ranks for students under the 11th grade. It will also allow for students to gain access to class rankings for any reasonable need, such as for scholarships, academic programs, or any opportunity that requires the numerical rank be given.
As proposed, S.B. 203 amends current law relating to the disclosure of a public school student's numerical class rank.
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 Subchapter B, Chapter 28, Education Code, by adding Section 28.02521, as follows:
Sec. 28.02521. DISCLOSURE OF CLASS RANKINGS. (a) Prohibits a school district, notwithstanding any other law, from disclosing the numerical class rank of a student until the student enters the 11th grade. Authorizes a school district to disclose the numerical class rank of a student in a grade below the 11th grade who demonstrates a reasonable need to know the student's numerical class rank, including for purposes of applying to an academic program that requires disclosure of the student's numerical class rank.
(b) Authorizes a school district to disclose a student's grade point average and percentile rank at any time.
SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 20252026 school year.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.