New Texas Success Initiative Approval and Implementation

In 2011, the 82^nd Texas Legislature approved the Texas Education Code, Section 51.3062(f), which grants the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) the authority to develop a single streamlined standard for college and career readiness among Texas students.

Texas currently has four testing methods to determine if students meet the requirements of the Texas Success Initiative statute: THEA, Compass, ASSET and Accuplacer. It has been questioned whether these testing methods sufficiently align with the College and Career Readiness Standards required for students to know since 2008. Following a study addressing these concerns, it was discovered that the performance expectations were not fully being met-leading to a call to revise the current standardized testing. A copy of the study results can be found here.

In March 2013, the Committee on Academic and Workforce Success approved a single TSI cut-score to determine the following components: students' college readiness standing, student placement within college courses and provision of developmental instruction as needed.

The new TSI Assessment, headed with a no-cost contract by the College Board, has been developed and reviewed by 72 Texas faculty members, including secondary, postsecondary and adult education experts.

The TSI Assessment will be implemented starting on the first day of the 2013-2014 school year, bringing an end to the previous college entrance exams. Students who have completed the SAT or ACT will be exempted from the requirement from taking the new TSI Assessment.   

The new TSI Assessment item description  is available, as well as the Coordinating Board's recorded meeting.  

^{Written by Amy Williams}