Texas parents -- new class rank legislation update

Parents Forum
41

<p>Can't find the link, but here's the text that was sent to me:</p>

<p>Under the Dome - Texas PTA Legislative Update
TEXAS LEGISLATIVE BRIEFING</p>

<p>Updates on issues of interest to members of Texas PTA</p>

<p>GPA Plan's Approval Postponed:</p>

<p>The Higher Education Coordinating Board will not vote on a revised plan for Uniform Grade Point Average calculation for the top 10% college admissions consideration until at least January 2009. Commissioner Paredes' new version of the proposal contains the following provisions:</p>

<p>· The method for calculating a uniform GPA for public university admissions will begin with students entering the 9th grade on or after May 1, 2009;</p>

<p>· All academic courses in the Recommended High School Program (RHSP) will be used in calculating the GPA regardless of when the course was taken (ex: Algebra I courses in 8th grade)
· On a 4.0 scale, a weight of 1.0 will apply to Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) and academic dual-credit courses, including career-oriented courses listed in the THECB's Lower Division Academic Course Guide Manual; *High-school career and technical education (CTE) courses aligned with university programs of study will be counted for GPA purposes; examples of these courses would include accounting, agriculture, architecture, business computer information, criminal justice, engineering, forestry, home economics, kinesiology, etc.
· Pre-AP and pre-IB courses will be weighed at 0.50; within 4 year, all pre-AP courses will be expected to meet "Laying the Foundation" or comparable standards, and pre-IB courses will be expected to be a part of the school's or district's IB program; (Laying the Foundation is a project funded in large by the Michael and Susan Dell grant to support teachers as they prepare students in grades 6 thru 11 to excel in AP and other college-level courses.)
· A 15 member "GPA Advisory Committee" will be created by the coordinating board. It will have representatives from public education, higher education and the workforce sectors. The committee will oversee the implementation of the GPA standards, develop a GPA conversion model and make adjustments in the courses counted in the GPA calculation as curricula in high schools and universities change.
· Pre-AP/pre-IB courses and dual credit courses would undergo a 4-year review, to be monitored by the GPA Advisory Committee, with possible GPA-related revisions made in the 5th year. </p>

<p>Paredes' overall goal is to boost college-readiness levels of Texas graduating seniors. The next step is to assemble the GPA advisory committee, further discussion by the THECB (possibly in December) and consideration by the full THECB at the board's January 2009 meeting. This proposal could be further delayed and/or modified due to actions taken by the Legislature.</p>

42

<p>If you just put the citation to the Texas Administrative Code into google, you can find the regs.</p>

43

<p>The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board meets tomorrow; one of the items under consideration is whether to adopt the Uniform GPA. According to the meeting agenda materials, it is being recommended to postpone consideration until the next quarterly or special called Board Meeting. </p>

<p>My guess is they are going to postpone this thing into oblivion.</p>

44

<p>The Board has said it's done deal. It is set to take effect for entering high school freshmen Fall 2009.</p>

<p>If you are concerned about the Uniform GPA you can contact them, but the public hearing is over.</p>

45

<p>AMom, it's not a done deal until the THECB approves the proposal, which is what they will be considering tomorrow. And if you look at the agenda materials posted on the website, it clearly shows that the recommendation is to postpone a decision. We'll see what is actually decided.</p>

46

<p>Sounds to me like more and more juniors and seniors are going to be taking full advantage of their open periods. Sure, letting more out of school early because they don't want to challenge themselves by risking another AP class will only increase the likelihood of them getting into trouble or having accidents. Thank you, Legislators.</p>

47

<p>I watched the webcast of the THECB meeting this afternoon, and they did vote to postpone a decision on the Uniform GPA. I have heard that there will be a bill introduced to repeal this.</p>

<p>Nice idea, impossible implementation.</p>

48

<p>Wow, you are dedicated. I had no idea there were webcasts of THECB mtgs. I'm hoping for repeal at this point.</p>

49

<p>Wow Texas's proposal sounds complicated. In California, the UC's use 10th and 11th grade GPA with an extra point given for AP/IB grades for up to 8 semesters (8 points) on UC approved courses (a-g requirements). Health, PE etc are not included, only academic classes including a year of visual or performing arts required. Most of the state schools use the same formula with the exception of a couple who also use 9th grade.</p>