Companion Bill: HB 3228 by Representative Ratliff

Summary

Senate Bill 1365 (Open States or Texas Legislature) advances competency based learning by allowing students in grades 6-12 to earn credit for courses after successfully passing exams selected by the school district board of trustees.

Legislative Analysis

Examinations
The bill requires each district to select four examinations for each subject that are approved by the school district board of trustees. The examinations approved by the board must include Advanced Placement examinations administered by the College Board and examinations administered through the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP).

Students in grades six and above would receive credit for scores of three or higher on the AP, a scaled score of 60 or higher on an approved CLEP test, or for scoring in the 80th percentile on another board-approved exam. With exception for exams with an administration date set by an entity other than the district (AP / CLEP), the bill requires school districts to offer no fewer than four opportunities for students to earn credit by examination each year on dates determined by the State Board of Education.

Students could not attempt credit by exam more than twice for the same subject, and would be required to enroll in a course if they failed to achieve the required score for credit by examination before the beginning of the school year in which they would ordinarily enroll in the course.

A student who received credit by exam in a subject area would be exempt from taking an end-of-course (EOC) assessment for that subject area. The bill limits exams administered electronically to a student to two per year.

Legislative History

Senate Vote: Ayes=31   Nays=0   Present Not Voting=0   Absent=0
Date: 5/23/2013

House Vote: Ayes=138    Nays=2   Present Not Voting=4   Absent=0
Date: 5/17/2013