Education Code § 51.968

Sec. 51.968. UNDERGRADUATE COURSE CREDIT FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS COMPLETING POSTSECONDARY-LEVEL PROGRAM. (a) In this section: (1) "Advanced Placement examination" means an examination administered through the Advanced Placement Program. (2) "CLEP examination" means an examination administered through the College-Level Examination Program. (3) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. (4) "Institution of higher education" means an institution of higher education, as defined by Section 61.003, that offers freshman-level courses. (5) "International Baccalaureate Diploma Program" means the curriculum and examinations leading to an International Baccalaureate diploma awarded by the International Baccalaureate Organization. (b) Each institution of higher education that offers freshman-level courses shall adopt and implement a policy to grant undergraduate course credit to entering freshman students who have: (1) successfully completed the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program; (2) achieved required scores on one or more examinations in the Advanced Placement Program or the College-Level Examination Program; or (3) successfully completed one or more dual credit courses. (c) In the policy, the institution shall: (1) establish the institution's conditions for granting course credit, including the minimum required scores on CLEP examinations, Advanced Placement examinations, and examinations for courses constituting the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program; and (2) based on the correlations identified under Subsection (f), identify the specific course credit or other academic requirements of the institution, including the number of semester credit hours or other course credit, that the institution will grant to a student who: (A) successfully completes the diploma program; (B) achieves required scores on CLEP examinations or Advanced Placement examinations; or (C) successfully completes a dual credit course. (c-1) In establishing the minimum required score on an Advanced Placement examination for granting course credit for a particular lower-division course under Subsection (c), an institution of higher education may not require a score of more than three unless the institution's chief academic officer determines, based on evidence, that a higher score on the examination is necessary to indicate a student is sufficiently prepared to be successful in a related, more advanced course for which the lower-division course is a prerequisite. (c-2) In establishing the minimum required score on a CLEP examination for granting course credit for a particular lower-division course under Subsection (c), an institution of higher education may not require a score higher than the minimum score recommended by the American Council on Education for granting course credit for that examination unless the institution's chief academic officer determines, based on evidence, that a higher score on the examination is necessary to indicate that a student is sufficiently prepared to be successful in a related, more advanced course for which the lower-division course is a prerequisite. (d) The policy adopted by an institution of higher education under Subsection (b) must provide that the institution may grant undergraduate course credit for a dual credit course only if the course is: (1) in the core curriculum of the institution of higher education that offered the course; (2) a career and technical education course; or (3) a foreign language course. (d-1) Subsection (d) does not apply to a dual credit course completed by a student as part of the early college education program established under Section 29.908 or any other early college program that assists a student in earning a certificate or an associate degree while in high school. (d-2) The coordinating board, in coordination with the Texas Education Agency, shall adopt rules to implement Subsections (d) and (d-1). In adopting those rules, the coordinating board shall use the negotiated rulemaking procedures under Chapter 2008, Government Code, and consult with relevant stakeholders. (e) On request of an applicant for admission as an entering freshman, an institution of higher education, based on information provided by the applicant, shall determine and notify the applicant regarding: (1) the amount and type of any course credit that would be granted to the applicant under the policy; and (2) any other academic requirement that the applicant would satisfy under the policy. (f) The coordinating board, in consultation with the Texas Education Agency, shall: (1) identify correlations between the subject matter and content of courses offered by each institution of higher education and the subject matter and content of courses and examinations in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, the Advanced Placement Program, and the College-Level Examination Program; and (2) make that information available to the public on the coordinating board's Internet website. (g) Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, an institution of higher education shall grant at least 24 semester credit hours or equivalent course credit in appropriate subject areas to an entering freshman student for successful completion of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. The institution may grant fewer than 24 semester credit hours if the student received a score of less than four on an examination administered as part of the diploma program. The institution may grant fewer credit hours only with respect to courses that are substantially related to the subject of that examination. Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 293 (S.B. 111), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2005. Amended by: Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1049 (S.B. 5), Sec. 9.01(b)(3), eff. September 1, 2013. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 318 (H.B. 1992), Sec. 1, eff. June 3, 2015. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 729 (S.B. 1091), Sec. 2, eff. June 12, 2017. Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 608 (S.B. 1227), Sec. 1, eff. June 14, 2021.