Relating to the consideration of college entrance examinations for admission to certain public institutions of higher education and a study by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board regarding those examinations.
Summary
SB 1241 revises how certain Texas public universities may consider college entrance examinations in undergraduate admissions. For applicants to general academic teaching institutions, the bill replaces the current fixed ACT/SAT benchmark language with a system under which the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board will set the qualifying score on a college entrance exam designated by board rule. The bill applies to both automatic admission for top 10 percent students who also meet curriculum or exam requirements, and to other applicants who meet the foundation curriculum or the exam-score alternative.
The bill also directs the Coordinating Board to study college entrance examinations and determine which tests are sufficiently rigorous and reliable to be used for admissions, along with the score that would demonstrate adequate performance. The board must report its findings and recommendations by August 1, 2026, and the study provision expires in 2027. The admissions changes do not take effect until the 2028 fall semester, giving institutions and the state time to adjust to any new exam criteria.
Impact
SB 1241 amends Sections 51.803 and 51.805 of the Education Code, changing admissions criteria for general academic teaching institutions by shifting from specific ACT/SAT thresholds to scores established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board on designated college entrance examinations. It affects applicants seeking automatic admission under the top 10 percent rule as well as other applicants using standardized test performance as an admissions pathway. The bill also creates a temporary statutory study in the Education Code requiring the Coordinating Board to evaluate admissions exams and recommend future legislative action.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have received generally favorable treatment overall, passing the Senate unanimously on final passage and clearing the House with a majority despite a notable number of dissenting votes. The final enactment suggests broad support for updating admissions testing policy and commissioning a formal study, while the recorded House and Senate amendment votes indicate that some members had reservations about the changes. The delayed implementation date also suggests an effort to balance reform with institutional transition time.
Contention
The main point of contention is the move away from fixed ACT and SAT benchmarks toward scores set by the Coordinating Board on exams designated by rule. Supporters likely viewed this as a modernization of admissions standards and a way to align criteria with current testing practices, while opponents may have been concerned about reducing predictability, increasing administrative discretion, or changing access pathways for applicants. The House vote margin, along with the Senate’s later concurrence vote, indicates that the exam-score revisions were the most debated feature of the bill rather than the study requirement itself.
Relating to the consideration of an alternative assessment instrument score in undergraduate admissions at certain public institutions of higher education.
Relating to requiring the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to waive fees for admission applications submitted to public institutions of higher education during certain periods.
Relating to requiring the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to waive fees for admission applications submitted to public institutions of higher education during certain periods.
Relating to a report by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board regarding enrollment and success in higher education for students with disabilities.
Relating to a report by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board regarding enrollment and success in higher education for students with disabilities.