TEXAS HIGHER EDUCATION
COORDINATION BOARD
P.O. Box 12788 Austin, Texas 78711
MEMORANDUM
VIA EMAIL
February 10, 2005
To: Presidents and Chancellors of Texas Public Institutions of Higher Education
From: Raymund A. Paredes /Commissioner of Higher Education
Subject: House Bill 944
In 2003, the Texas Legislature during its regular session passed House Bill 944, which was signed into law by Governor Perry. I wanted to remind you of the bill’s requirements. It amended Chapter 51 of the Texas Education Code with a provision that requires institutions of higher education to apply the same undergraduate admissions standards for an applicant who has successfully completed a nontraditional secondary education as a student who graduated from a public high school. It further prohibits institutions of higher education from requiring applicants who have completed a nontraditional secondary education to submit evidence or comply with any other requirements that are generally not required of other applicants for undergraduate admission to the institution. Below, I have provided the specific provisions of the law for your review.
51.9241. ADMISSION OF STUDENT WITH NONTRADITIONAL SECONDARY EDUCATION
In this section:
(1) “Institution of higher education” has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
(2) “Nontraditional secondary education” means a course of study at the secondary school level in a non-accredited private school setting, including a home school.
Because the State of Texas considers successful completion of a nontraditional secondary education to be equivalent to graduation from a public high school, an institution of higher education must treat an applicant from admission to the institution as an undergraduate student who presents evidence that the person has successfully completed a nontraditional secondary education according to the same general standards as other applicants for undergraduate admission who have graduated from a public high school.
An institution of higher education may not require an applicant for admission to the institution as an undergraduate student who presents evidence that the person has successfully completed a nontraditional secondary education to:
(1) obtain or submit evidence that the person has obtained a general education development certificate, certificate of high school equivalency, or other credentials equivalent to a public high school degree; or
(2) take an examination or comply with any other application or admission requirement not generally applicable to other applicants for undergraduate admission to the institution.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
COORDINATION BOARD
P.O. Box 12788 Austin, Texas 78711
MEMORANDUM
VIA EMAIL
February 10, 2005
To: Presidents and Chancellors of Texas Public Institutions of Higher Education
From: Raymund A. Paredes /Commissioner of Higher Education
Subject: House Bill 944
In 2003, the Texas Legislature during its regular session passed House Bill 944, which was signed into law by Governor Perry. I wanted to remind you of the bill’s requirements. It amended Chapter 51 of the Texas Education Code with a provision that requires institutions of higher education to apply the same undergraduate admissions standards for an applicant who has successfully completed a nontraditional secondary education as a student who graduated from a public high school. It further prohibits institutions of higher education from requiring applicants who have completed a nontraditional secondary education to submit evidence or comply with any other requirements that are generally not required of other applicants for undergraduate admission to the institution. Below, I have provided the specific provisions of the law for your review.
51.9241. ADMISSION OF STUDENT WITH NONTRADITIONAL SECONDARY EDUCATION
In this section:
(1) “Institution of higher education” has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
(2) “Nontraditional secondary education” means a course of study at the secondary school level in a non-accredited private school setting, including a home school.
Because the State of Texas considers successful completion of a nontraditional secondary education to be equivalent to graduation from a public high school, an institution of higher education must treat an applicant from admission to the institution as an undergraduate student who presents evidence that the person has successfully completed a nontraditional secondary education according to the same general standards as other applicants for undergraduate admission who have graduated from a public high school.
An institution of higher education may not require an applicant for admission to the institution as an undergraduate student who presents evidence that the person has successfully completed a nontraditional secondary education to:
(1) obtain or submit evidence that the person has obtained a general education development certificate, certificate of high school equivalency, or other credentials equivalent to a public high school degree; or
(2) take an examination or comply with any other application or admission requirement not generally applicable to other applicants for undergraduate admission to the institution.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER