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Who is exempt?
- Students who meet qualifying standards on the SAT (1070 combined with a 500 or higher on the math and verbal sections), ACT 23 composite, with a 19 or higher on the English and math sections), TAAS (89 TLI Reading, 86 TLI Math, 1770 Writing), or, after fall 2004, the exit-level TAKS. Those scores are good for five and three years, respectively. TAKS scores should be available in May 2004
- Students who have graduated with an associate or baccalaureate degree
- Students who transfer to a Texas institution of higher education from a private or independent institution of higher education or an accredited out-of-state and who have satisfactorily completed college-level coursework as determined by the receiving institution
- Students who have attended any institution and have been determined to have met readiness standards by that institution
- Students enrolled in Level-One certificate programs
- Students serving in the military
- Students who are not seeking a degree or Level-Two certificate (at the discretion of the institution)
What exemptions have disappeared?
- Grandfathering
- Deaf students
- Dyslexia and related disorders
- High school graduates (3.5 GPA with recommended curriculum)
- International students
- Students 55 or older
Assessment
- Still required prior to enrolling
- Same instruments, with these exceptions – no Stanford, no MAPS, re-named TASP Test (Texas Higher Education Assessment [THEA])
- Same passing standards:
ASSET: Reading Skills – 41; Elementary Algebra – 38; Writing Skills (objective) – 40; written Essay – 6
COMPASS: Reading Skills – 81; Algebra – 39; Writing Skills (objective) – 59; Written Essay – 6
ACCUPLACER: Reading Comprehension – 78; Elementary Algebra – 63; Sentence Skills – 80; Written Essay – 6
THEA: Reading – 230; Mathematics – 230; Writing - 220
Advisement and Plan for Academic Success
- Each student who does not pass the assessment must be advised
- Institutions will work with students to determine a plan for academic success
- Plans shall list ways for the student to meet college readiness, including enrolling in appropriate developmental education, retesting, and what, if any, for-credit courses the student may enroll in
- Institutions will be responsible for providing appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities
Determining College Readiness
- Since institutions will determine college readiness, and won’t be relying solely on test scores, they may consider performance in developmental education, performance in college-level courses, or performance on an assessment instrument
- A retest is only required by law when a student scores below the “deviation standard”
- Students may retest at any time
- Passing an assessment instrument or enrolling in developmental education is not mandated
- Institutions may rewrite their developmental education plans to reflect the changes of the Success Initiative
- Transcripts must indicate that a student has completed the Success Initiative
Evaluation and Reporting
- Exactly what institutions will be required to report is being developed
- The Board will evaluate the effectiveness of the Success Initiative on a state-wide and institutional basis
Performance Based Developmental Education Funds
- TASP - Approximately $5.8 million allocated based upon the actual number of students reported as passing the final part of TASP or receiving a B or better in an appropriate college level course in a fiscal year after having failed at least one part for the first time within the past two years
- Success Initiative - Currently none. CB may develop formulas for performance measures (but the legislature would have to appropriate funding for these formulas)
For additional information, please contact:
Linda McDonough
Director, Texas Success Initiative
Linda.McDonough@thecb.state.tx.us
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