Bill Text: TX SB436 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to administration of collegiate learning assessments to students at general academic teaching institutions.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-04-17 - Left pending in committee [SB436 Detail]

Download: Texas-2013-SB436-Introduced.html

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83R3191 KJM-F
By: Birdwell S.B. No. 436

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to administration of collegiate learning assessments to
students at general academic teaching institutions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 51, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter F-1 to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER F-1. COLLEGIATE LEARNING ASSESSMENT
Sec. 51.321. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Collegiate learning assessment" means the
Collegiate Learning Assessment or other comparable assessment
instrument approved for purposes of this subchapter by the
coordinating board.
(2) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board.
(3) "General academic teaching institution" has the
meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
Sec. 51.322. ASSESSMENT REQUIRED; PURPOSES. Each general
academic teaching institution shall administer a collegiate
learning assessment in accordance with this subchapter to:
(1) measure student learning;
(2) foster a transparent learning environment; and
(3) ensure that the institution is accountable for
educating the institution's students by measuring the institution's
contributions to student educational development.
Sec. 51.323. ASSESSMENT SCHEDULE. A collegiate learning
assessment shall be administered as follows:
(1) to each entering freshman student at a general
academic teaching institution before the first day of class; and
(2) to each student at a general academic teaching
institution during the semester or other academic term in which the
student is on track to graduate with a bachelor's degree.
Sec. 51.324. DEFERMENTS. (a) A student who is unable to
take a collegiate learning assessment during a required period
described by Section 51.323 may submit to the vice president of
academic affairs or other appropriate official as designated by the
general academic teaching institution a request to defer taking the
assessment. The official shall grant the request if the official
determines that the student is unable to take the assessment during
the required period due to extenuating circumstances as established
by institution policy.
(b) A student must submit a request for a deferment under
Subsection (a), in the manner prescribed by the institution,
either:
(1) before the official date of the assessment; or
(2) if there is not an official assessment date,
before the final day of the semester or other academic term in which
the student is required to take the assessment.
(c) A student granted a deferment under this section shall
take the assessment during the institution's first administration
of the assessment following the end of the deferment period.
Sec. 51.325. FAILURE TO TAKE ASSESSMENT. If a student fails
to take a collegiate learning assessment in accordance with Section
51.323 and either is not granted a deferment or is granted a
deferment but fails to comply with Section 51.324(c), any general
academic teaching institution:
(1) may not allow the student to register for classes
unless the student is admitted or readmitted to the institution in
accordance with Section 51.326; and
(2) shall refuse to release the student's official
transcript to the student for a reasonable period in accordance
with institution policy.
Sec. 51.326. ADMISSION OR READMISSION AFTER FAILURE TO TAKE
ASSESSMENT. (a) A student described by Section 51.325 may not be
accepted for admission or readmission to any general academic
teaching institution for a semester or other academic term until
the second academic term following the initial academic term for
which the student was disallowed from registering for classes under
Section 51.325(1).
(b) A student described by Section 51.325 who is admitted or
readmitted to a general academic teaching institution must take the
appropriate collegiate learning assessment during the
institution's first administration of the assessment following the
student's enrollment.
(c) An institution shall immediately expel a student who
fails to take the assessment as required by Subsection (b).
Sec. 51.327. TRANSFER STUDENTS. A student who transfers
into a general academic teaching institution must take the
collegiate learning assessment before registering for classes.
Sec. 51.328. EXCUSED ABSENCE. (a) A general academic
teaching institution shall excuse a student from attending classes
or completing an assignment as necessary for the student to take a
collegiate learning assessment in accordance with this subchapter.
(b) The institution shall allow a student with an excused
absence under this section to make up any class assignment,
including any examination, that is due or administered during the
student's excused absence. The student shall be provided a
reasonable period in which to make up the original assignment or be
provided with a makeup assignment that is:
(1) similar in content and expectations to the missed
assignment; and
(2) provided within a reasonable time after the
excused absence.
Sec. 51.329. REPORTING AND TRANSCRIPT REQUIREMENTS. (a)
Each general academic teaching institution shall report the results
of the collegiate learning assessment to the coordinating board at
the time and in a manner established by coordinating board rule.
(b) Each general academic teaching institution shall
include a student's collegiate learning assessment scores on the
student's official transcript.
Sec. 51.330. RULES. The coordinating board shall adopt
rules as necessary for the administration of this subchapter.
SECTION 2. (a) Subchapter F-1, Chapter 51, Education Code,
as added by this Act, applies beginning with the 2014 fall semester.
(b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
adopt rules for the administration of Subchapter F-1, Chapter 51,
Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after
this Act takes effect.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2013.