Statute Amended or Added:  Adds §28.0252 and §51.968, Education Code

Summary:  This legislation gives the commissioner the authority to develop a standard method of computing a student's high school grade point average, including standard weights for honors, advanced placement (AP), international baccalaureate (IB), and concurrent or dual credit courses, and requires districts to use this method once it is developed. The GPA calculation would apply to students entering Grade 9 during or after the 2007-08 school year. This method will also be used to calculate eligibility for automatic college admission under Section 51.803.

The legislation also requires institutions of higher education to adopt, implement, and publish policies for granting college credit for high school students who have successfully completed IB diplomas, achieved certain scores on AP or College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) examinations, or successfully completed concurrent or dual enrollment courses, and to identify credit available to students who successfully complete these courses or examinations.

The IB diploma would carry at least 24 hours of college credit if the student scores 4 or above on the IB exams.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and the Agency would be required to make available information on curriculum correlations between higher education course offerings and AP, IB, and CLEP programs at the THECB website.

Change from current law:  Currently there is no provision in law to determine grading policies at public schools.

Effective Date:  September 1, 2005

Action required for 2005-2006 School Year:  Institutions of higher education are required to adopt and make public their course transfer policies by December 31, 2005.

Outstanding Issues:  None

Does this bill create a new program?  No

Does this bill require a new report?  Yes

Rulemaking authority?  Commissioner

Does this apply to charters?  No

Does this bill contain a new reporting requirement for TEA/school districts?  Yes