Frequently Asked Questions for:

• All Institutions
• Career Schools and Colleges
• College Students and Parents
• High School Students, Parents and Counselors
• Teacher Certification Program Admission

Part 1 -- For All Institutions

Isn’t the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) the same as the Texas Academic Skills Program (TASP), but with a different name, the THEA?

No. The TASP law has been repealed and replaced by a new program, the Texas Success Initiative (Texas Education Code 51.3062). The TSI still requires students to be assessed in reading, writing and math skills prior to enrolling in college, but now each institution determines what to do with students who don’tpass one or more parts of an assessment. Institutions have the flexibility to determine the best path for any particular student to take for becoming college-ready and demonstrating that they are ready for college-level courses.

The name of the program is the Texas Success Initiative; THEA (Texas Higher Education Assessment) is the TASP Test, renamed, and is one of the tests that can be administered to students to determine if they are college ready.

What tests can we use to fulfill the requirements of the Success Initiative?

You can use the same tests that you used for TASP purposes: the ASSET, the ACCUPLACER, the COMPASS and the THEA (formerly known as the TASP Test). The MAPS was used for TASP purposes, but it is no longer being printed and distributed by the test publisher.

Which of the tests is the “official” test?

There is no “official” test. Any or all of the tests listed above may be used for the initial test and for any state or institutionally required retest.

Will the price of the test change and who is supposed to pay for the test?

The price of the test is determined by the respective test companies or individual institutions. We have no indication that the prices of the tests will change at this time. The new law is silent on who pays for the test. Institutions will probably want to pass the cost of the test on to the examinee, but other funding sources are not precluded.

What do we do with students who were exempt from TASP? Do we have to assess them now for TSI?

No. If a student was TASP exempt and that exemption was noted on a transcript, he or she doesn’t have to be assessed under TSI, even if that particular exemption no longer exists. You should not go back and “un-exempt” those students now. For example, a student who graduated from high school with a 3.5 gpa, took the recommended or distinguished curriculum and started college prior to September 1, 2003, was exempt from the TASP and will remain exempt. While this exemption does not exist under the TSI, you don’t have to go back and assess that student.

Students who were exempt from state mandated testing prior to September 1, 2003 (TASP) will remain exempt after September 1, 2003 (TSI).

I’m still confused about the “grandfathering” exemption. Are students who were grandfathered under TASP now required to be assessed and advised since there is no longer a “grandfathering” exemption?

No. Students who were exempt from TASP under the grandfathering clause are still exempt under TSI because these students enrolled in college under TASP. However, a student who never took advantage of the grandfathering exemption because he never enrolled in college after fall 1989, but who enrolls in college now will have to be assessed and advised under TSI just like any other newly enrolling student.

What about students who have completed their TASP requirements? Are they still complete under TSI?

Students who completed their TASP requirements are considered complete under TSI as well.

Who needs to retest?

The law requires that individuals who score below a deviation standard set by the Coordinating Board must retest. The Coordinating Board has set the deviation standards and those can be found in the Texas Success Initiative rules. (go to §4.59 Determination of Readiness to Perform Freshman-level Academic Coursework paragraph c).

Students who score above the deviation standard but below the passing standard on their initial test do not have to retest by law, but institutions may require them to do so as part of their developmental education plan.

What happens to students who still don’t score above the deviation score on their retest?

Students who retest and still don’t score above the deviation standard should meet with an advisor to determine next steps. Each institution will decide what help a student needs. The institution may decide the student needs more developmental education, or they may use other means of determining if the student is academically ready to take the college courses he or she needs. There should be some discussion of the possible options for students facing this situation in the institution’s TSI plan.

When do we retest students? The law says students may retest at any time. Does this really mean a student can take a retest anytime, even the next day?

Allowing students to retest anytime does not mean that institutions must give the test on demand. Institutions can set testing schedules and give the tests at their convenience. The intent here is to let students retest if there is good reason to do so, but not to have test centers open around the clock giving tests to whoever asks. Institutions control when tests are given.

Can institutions still require students to make a higher score than the state’s minimum as a prerequisite to certain courses?

Yes. Institutions have always had the prerogative to require higher standards if they chose to. For instance, the suggested math score on the THEA that indicates readiness for college algebra is 270. Institutions can still use that suggested higher score to determine which students they will admit to college algebra courses.

Who is college-ready via transfer?

The law and rules allow Texas public institutions to declare a student college- ready. When they make that determination it must be recorded on the student’s official transcript. Once this happens, the student cannot be required to retest or be placed in developmental education for Success Initiative purposes if they transfer to another Texas public institution. They may be subject to that institutions prerequisites or other requirements.

The law and rules also permit a student transferring to a Texas public institution from a private or out-of-state institution to be declared college-ready by the receiving institution. The receiving institution needs to review the incoming student’s transcript and determine if the student has successfully completed college-level work. That determination is made solely by the receiving Texas public institution.

To summarize, students at Texas public institutions will need to have an indication of college-readiness noted on their transcript. Texas public institutions will determine the status of students who transfer to them from a private or out-of-state institution by reviewing their transcript.

How does the Texas Success Initiative apply to Health Science Centers?

The TSI law applies to all institutions of higher education in Texas, and the term "Institution of higher education" means any public technical institute, public junior college, public senior college or university, medical or dental unit, public state college, or other agency of higher education in Texas. Health Science Centers that admit undergraduate students need to comply with the TSI. They will have to assess entering students and determine when they are ready for college-level coursework. If these students transfer from a Texas public institution or a private or out-of-state institution, the Health Science Center can use the options outlined in the answer to the previous question to determine if the student has met the Success Initiative goal of college readiness. Health Science Centers with rigorous admission requirements will be able to determine if their candidates have shown college-readiness skills.

What tests are approved for various populations?

There are no separate tests for special populations or students with disabilities of any kind. All students who must be tested for college-readiness skills will take the same tests: the THEA, ACCUPLACER, COMPASS, or the ASSET. If an individual needs special accommodations due to a disability, they must show documentation supporting the request to the institution or test company administering the test and accommodations will be provided by the institution or the test company.

Part 2 -- For Career Schools and Colleges

Do we really have to assess students prior to enrollment? Many of our inquiries come from people who are interested, but not yet committed to enrolling.

It was never intended that students who had not committed to your school would have to be assessed unless they requested it. Once a student signs an enrollment agreement they can be scheduled for testing. The purpose of testing before classes begin is to allow the college and the student to determine which classes are best suited for the student. For students who cannot be tested before classes start, the college can test them in their first semester of enrollment.

Could an institution set its own cut scores and use specific sections of one of the approved assessment instruments as an entrance/placement test, then add the remaining sections of the same instrument to fulfill the TSI requirement?

Yes. Many colleges use one or two sections of an assessment as part of an admission requirement. If the student meets the entrance requirements and is accepted, the institution can give the student the section(s) he or she didn't take and have a complete test for TSI purposes.

We have several students who completed all course requirements but were not awarded a diploma because they did not fulfill their TASP obligation (either by passing all sections of an assessment or earning a grade of "B" or higher in a related college-level course). Is there any help for these students under the Success Initiative?

Yes. Students who have completed coursework but have not received their diploma may return to their institution, and with the institution's approval, enroll in a course (based on the institution's advice) and when they successfully complete that course, may be awarded a diploma under the Success Initiative.

Part 3 -- For College Students and Parents

Do I have to take this test for college? I already passed the TAKS test.

You are exempt from taking a test for the TSI if you met the qualifying standards on the TAAS, the SAT or the ACT. Exemptions based on TAKS scores will become effective fall 2004. Check with your high school counselor or college admissions office or Coordinating Board rules (go to §4.54 Exemptions/Exceptions to see what the exemptions are).

Do I have to take remedial classes in college if I don’t pass the test?

You might. Talk to an advisor to determine what options are available to you and what you can to do show you are ready for college-level courses. This process will help insure you are taking classes you are ready for.

What if I transfer to another college? Will they make me test again?

No, once you have taken a test for TSI purposes you don’t have to take another test if you transfer. You may have to meet institutional requirements, however.

Will I have to take developmental education courses again if I transfer to another college?

Once your institution declares you ready for college-level work and has transcripted that information, you won’t be put in developmental education classes for TSI purposes at another college if you transfer. Students may be subject to prerequisites, but those prerequisites will apply to all students at that college.

Part 4 -- For High School Students, Parents and Counselors

How does the TSI affect dual credit students and courses? Under TASP, dual credit students had to be exempt from testing or they had to pass parts of the TASP Test. Has this changed?

High school students who want to enroll in dual credit courses must be assessed for college- level skills since they will be earning college credit. High school students who pass the related section(s) of the Exit-level TAKS will not have to take a test for TSI purposes. Students who do not pass the Exit-level TAKS may still take one of the tests used for the Success Initiative and may enroll in dual credit courses related to the areas of the test they passed.

The Exit-level TAKS will have a college readiness standard in place for the 2004-2005 school year. High school students who score at or above that standard will not have to take a test for Success Initiative purposes. They may have to meet other institutional requirements.

Part 5 – Teacher Certification Program Admission

I want to enter a teacher certification program. They tell me I must be tested before I can be admitted. What test should I take?