High school juniors and seniors may be eligible to earn college credit while still in high school by enrolling in concurrent enrollment or dual credit programs. Concurrent enrollment occurs when a high school student enrolls in college or university courses that are separate from high school courses, usually outside of high school hours. For dual credit, students take college-level courses that simultaneously satisfy both college and high school requirements under an agreement between a school district and a college or university. In order to enroll in either of these programs, students must first satisfy the requirements of the Texas Success Initiative (TSI).

How can the TSI requirements be satisfied?

Students wishing to enroll in college-level courses are required by law to be assessed for basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills prior to enrolling in college coursework. THEA, ASSET, COMPASS and ACCUPLACER are the tests institutions may use to assess incoming students. The college or university the student plans to attend will have information on which assessment is available at that particular school. Students may take college-level courses related to the area(s) of the test they pass.

High school students may be exempt from state-mandated testing if they meet the qualifying standards on the SAT, the ACT or the 10th or 11th grade Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS). The standards are:

SAT – 1070 combined, with 500 or higher math and verbal
ACT – 23 composite, with 19 or higher math and English
TAKS – 2200 in math and/or 2200 in English/Language Arts with a writing subscore of at least 3*

SAT and ACT scores are valid for five years from the date of testing; TAKS scores are valid for three years.

Qualifying TAKS scores

Sophomores who earn 2200 on the TAKS math and/or ELA (with writing subscore of 3) may use those scores to enroll in dual or concurrent credit courses through their senior year. Sophomores who meet the standard in one area may take dual or concurrent courses related to the area of the test they passed. If the qualifying standard isn’t met on either section of the 10th grade TAKS, but the student wants to take college-level courses during his or her junior year, the student must take one of the assessment instruments approved for TSI purposes. Once again, the student may take college-level courses related to the area(s) of the test he or she passed.

Juniors who earn 2200 on the exit-level (11th grade) TAKS math and/or ELA (with writing subscore of 3) may enroll in dual or concurrent credit college courses their senior year. Juniors who meet the standard in one area may take dual or concurrent courses related to the area of the test they passed. If the qualifying standard isn’t met on either section of the 11th grade TAKS, but the student wants to take college-level courses during his or her senior year, the student must take one of the assessment instruments approved for TSI purposes. Once again, the student may take college-level courses related to the area(s) of the test he or she passed.

Students who meet the qualifying standard on one section (math or ELA) of the 10th grade TAKS, and then meet the qualifying standard on the other section (math or ELA) when they take the exit-level TAKS, will have satisfied their TSI requirements.

Keep in mind that these exemptions excuse students from having to take a state-mandated test only. They may still have to meet institutional prerequisites or testing requirements.

* The college-readiness standard on the TAKS will be effective for the fall 2004 semester, pending final adoption in April by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.