‘Alternative Assessment’ Turns Out To Be The Classic Learning Test

The text as introduced · 872 words

By: Leo Wilson
H.B. No. 4701

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to student discretion to use an alternative assessment

instrument as part of their undergraduate admissions process.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 39.0261(a), Education Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(a) In addition to the assessment instruments otherwise

authorized or required by this subchapter:

(1) each school year and at state cost, a school

district may administer to students in the spring of the eighth

grade an established, valid, reliable, and nationally

norm-referenced preliminary college preparation assessment

instrument for the purpose of diagnosing the academic strengths and

deficiencies of students before entrance into high school;

(2) each school year and at state cost, a school

district may administer to students in the 10th grade an

established, valid, reliable, and nationally norm-referenced

preliminary college preparation assessment instrument for the

purpose of measuring a student's progress toward readiness for

college and the workplace; and

(3) high school students in the spring of the 11th

grade or during the 12th grade may select and take once, at state

cost:

(A) one of the valid, reliable, and nationally

norm-referenced assessment instruments used by colleges and

universities as part of their undergraduate admissions processes ,

including the SAT, the ACT, or the Classic Learning Test (CLT) ; or

(B) the assessment instrument designated by the

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under Section 51.334.

SECTION 2. Section 51.803(a), Education Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(a) Subject to Subsection (a-1), each general academic

teaching institution shall admit an applicant for admission to the

institution as an undergraduate student if the applicant graduated

with a grade point average in the top 10 percent of the student's

high school graduating class in one of the two school years

preceding the academic year for which the applicant is applying for

admission and:

(1) the applicant:

(A) graduated from a public or private high

school in this state accredited by a generally recognized

accrediting organization or from a high school operated by the

United States Department of Defense; or

(B) completed a nontraditional secondary

education as defined by Section 51.9241;

(2) the applicant:

(A) successfully completed:

(i) at a public high school, the curriculum

requirements established under Section 28.025 for the

distinguished level of achievement under the foundation high school

program; or

(ii) at a high school to which Section

28.025 does not apply, a curriculum that is equivalent in content

and rigor to the distinguished level of achievement under the

foundation high school program; or

(B) either:

(i) satisfied ACT's College Readiness

Benchmarks on the ACT assessment applicable to the applicant ; or

(ii) earned :

(a) on the SAT assessment a score of

at least 1,500 out of 2,400 or the equivalent ;

(b) on the Classic Learning Test

assessment a score of at least 71 out of 120 or the equivalent; or

(iii) on a college entrance examination

designated by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and to

which Subparagraphs (i) and (ii) do not apply, achieved a score set

by coordinating board rule; and

(3) if the applicant graduated from a high school

operated by the United States Department of Defense, the applicant

is a Texas resident under Section 54.052 or is entitled to pay

tuition fees at the rate provided for Texas residents under Section

54.241(d) for the term or semester to which admitted.

SECTION 3. Section 51.805(a), Education Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(a) A graduating student who does not qualify for admission

under Section 51.803 or 51.804 may apply to any general academic

teaching institution if the student:

(1) successfully completed:

(A) at a public high school, the curriculum

requirements established under Section 28.025 for the foundation

high school program; or

(B) at a high school to which Section 28.025 does

not apply, a curriculum that is equivalent in content and rigor to

the foundation high school program; or

(2) either:

(A) satisfied ACT's College Readiness Benchmarks

on the ACT assessment applicable to the applicant ; or

(B) earned :

(i) on the SAT assessment a score of at

least 1,500 out of 2,400 or the equivalent ;

(ii) on the Classic Learning Test

assessment a score of at least 71 out of 120 or the equivalent; or

(C) on a college entrance examination designated

by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and to which

Paragraphs (A) and (B) do not apply, achieved a score set by

coordinating board rule .

SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply

beginning with admissions to a general academic teaching

institution for the 2026 fall semester. Admissions to a general

academic teaching institution for a term or semester before the

2026 fall semester are governed by the law in effect immediately

before the effective date of this Act, and the former law is

continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 5. 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, 2025.