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.