19 TAC §4.85
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board proposes amendments
to §4.85(b) concerning student eligibility requirements for dual credit
courses. Specifically, proposed amendments would prescribe college readiness
requirements for dual credit students under TAKS and the Texas Success Initiative.
Dr. Glenda O. Barron has determined that for each year of the first five
years these sections are in effect, there will not be any fiscal implication
to state or local government as a result of enforcing or administering the
rules.
Dr. Barron has also determined that for each year of the first five years
this section is in effect, the public benefit anticipated as a result of administering
this section will be to update appropriate college readiness assessment requirements
for dual credit students. There is no effect on small businesses. There is
no anticipated economic cost to persons who are required to comply with the
section as proposed. There is no impact on local employment.
Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Glenda O. Barron, Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board, 1200 East Anderson Lane, Austin, Texas 78752;
Glenda.Barron@thecb.state.tx.us. Comments will be accepted for 30 days following
publication of the proposal in the Texas Register.
The amendments are proposed under Texas Education Code, §§29.182,
29.184, 61.027, 61.076(J), 130.001(b)(3) - (4), 130.008, 130.090, and 135.06(d)
which provides the Coordinating Board with the authority to regulate dual
credit partnerships between secondary schools and public colleges.
The amendments affect Texas Education Code §§61.05129.182, 29.184,
61.027, 1.076(J), 130.001(b)(3) - (4), 130.008, 130.090, and 135.06(d).
§4.85.Dual Credit Requirements.
(a)
(No change.)
(b)
Student Eligibility.
(1)
A high school student is eligible to enroll
in dual credit courses in the eleventh and/or twelfth grade if the student:
(A)
demonstrates college readiness by achieving
the minimum passing standards under the provisions of the Texas Success Initiative
as set forth in §4.57 of this title (relating to Minimum Passing Standards)
on relevant section(s) of an assessment instrument approved by the Board as
set forth in §4.56 of this title (relating to Assessment Instruments);
or
(B)
demonstrates that he or she is exempt under
the provisions of the Texas Success Initiative as set forth §4.54 of
this title (relating to Exemptions/Exceptions).
[
To be eligible
for enrollment in a dual credit course for TASP-eligible programs (associate
or baccalaureate degree or level two certificate), the high school student
must present a passing score on the Texas Academic Skills Program (TASP) test
or a Board-approved alternative assessment instrument in at least one area
(mathematics, reading, writing) as deemed relevant by the college for the
intended dual credit course in which the student shall enroll. Eligibility
for students in the high school graduating class of 2005 to take dual credit
courses during the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 academic years may also be established
by achieving at least the passing standard on the English/Language Arts and/or
Mathematics sections (as applicable) of the tenth grade Texas Assessment of
Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) test established by the State Board of Education.
]
(2)
An eleventh grade high school student is
also eligible to enroll in dual credit courses if the student achieves a score
of 2,200 on Mathematics and/or a score of 2,200 on English Language Arts with
a writing subsection score of at least 3 on the tenth grade TAKS. An eligible
high school student who has enrolled in dual credit courses in the eleventh
grade shall not be required to demonstrate further evidence of eligibility
to enroll in dual credit courses in the twelfth grade.
[
To be eligible
for enrollment in a dual credit course for TASP-waived college certificate
programs, the high school student must have passed all sections of the exit-level
TAAS test. Eligibility for students in the high school graduating class of
2005 to take dual credit courses in TASP-waived certificate programs during
the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 academic years may be established by achieving
at least the passing standard on the English/Language Arts and/or Mathematics
sections (as applicable) of the tenth grade Texas Assessment of Knowledge
and Skills (TAKS) test established by the State Board of Education. A student
who has received an exemption from taking the TAKS or TAAS test may qualify
to enroll in a dual credit course by presenting a passing score on the Texas
Academic Skills Program (TASP) test or a Board-approved alternative assessment
instrument in at least one area (mathematics, reading, writing) as deemed
relevant by the college for the intended dual credit course in which the student
shall enroll.
]
(3)
A high school student is eligible
to enroll in workforce education dual credit courses in the eleventh and/or
twelfth grade if the student demonstrates that he or she has achieved the
minimum high school passing standard on the Mathematics section and/or the
English/Language Arts section on the tenth or eleventh grade TAKS.
(A)
A student may enroll only in those workforce
education dual credit courses for which the student has demonstrated eligibility.
(B)
A student who is exempt from taking TAKS may
be otherwise evaluated by an institution to determine eligibility for enrolling
in workforce education dual credit courses.
(4)
[
(3)
] Students who are enrolled in
private or non-accredited secondary schools or who are home-schooled must
satisfy
paragraphs (1)-(3)
[
paragraph (1)
] of this subsection.
(5)
[
(4)
] To be eligible for enrollment
in a dual credit course offered by a public college, students must meet all
the college's regular prerequisite requirements designated for that course
(e.g., minimum score on a specified placement test, minimum grade in a specified
previous course, etc.).
(6)
[
(5)
] To be eligible for enrollment
in a dual credit course offered by a public college, students must have at
least junior year high school standing. Exceptions to this requirement for
students with demonstrated outstanding academic performance and capability
(as evidenced by grade-point average, PSAT scores, or other assessment indicators)
may be approved by the principal of the high school and the chief academic
officer of the college.
Students with less than junior year high school
standing must demonstrate eligibility as outlined under subsection (b)(1)
of this section.
(7)
[
(6)
] High school students shall
not be enrolled in more than two dual credit courses per semester. Exceptions
to this requirement for students with demonstrated outstanding academic performance
and capability (as evidenced by grade-point average, ACT or SAT scores, or
other assessment indicators) may be approved by the principal of the high
school and the chief academic officer of the college.
(8)
An institution may impose additional
requirements for enrollment in courses for dual credit that do not conflict
with this section.
(9)
An institution is not required,
under the provisions of this section, to offer dual credit courses for high
school students.
(c)
Location of Class. Dual credit courses may be taught on
the college campus or on the high school campus. For dual credit courses taught
exclusively to high school students on the high school campus and for dual
credit courses taught electronically, public colleges shall comply with applicable
rules and procedures for offering courses at a distance in §§4.101
through 4.108 of this title (relating to
Approval of
Distance Education
and Off-Campus Instruction
for Public Colleges and Universities
).
In addition, dual credit courses taught electronically shall comply with the
Board's adopted Principles of Good Practice for Courses Offered Electronically.
(d) - (i)
(No change.)
This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed
by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.
Filed with the Office of
the Secretary of State on February 27, 2004.
TRD-200401595
Jan Greenberg
General Counsel
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Proposed date of adoption: April 22, 2004
For further information, please call: (512) 427-6114