(a) For the purpose of demonstrating exemption under subsection (b) of this section, the Board shall ensure that the passing standard on each approved assessment meets the college readiness standard under §4.57(a) of this subchapter (relating to Texas Success Initiative Assessment College Readiness Standards).
(b) A student who achieves the passing standard on an assessment as set out in this subsection shall be deemed exempt from the requirements of the Texas Success Initiative. An institution shall not require an exempt student to provide any additional demonstration of college readiness and shall allow an exempt student to enroll in an entry-level academic course as defined in §4.53(13) of this title (relating to Definitions). The following figure contains the full list of assessments, minimum required scores, and eligible exemptions.
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  (1) For a period of five (5) years from the date of testing, a student who is tested and performs at or above the following standards that cannot be raised by institutions:
    (A) ACT. A student who has achieved the applicable standard under this subsection shall be deemed exempt under this subchapter.
      (i) ACT administered prior to February 15, 2023: composite score of 23 with a minimum of 19 on the English test shall be exempt for both the reading and writing sections of the TSI Assessment, and/or 19 on the mathematics test shall be exempt for the mathematics section of the TSI Assessment.
      (ii) ACT administered on or after February 15, 2023: a combined score of 40 on the English and Reading (E+R) tests shall be exempt for both reading and writing or ELAR sections of the TSI Assessment. A score of 22 on the mathematics test shall be exempt for the mathematics section of the TSI Assessment. There is no composite score.
      (iii) The use of scores from both the ACT administered prior to February 15, 2023, and the ACT administered after February 15, 2023, is allowable, as long as the benchmarks set forth in clause (ii) of this subparagraph are met.
    (B) SAT. A student who has achieved the applicable standard under this subsection shall be deemed exempt under this subchapter.
      (i) SAT administered on or after March 5, 2016: a minimum score of 480 on the Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) test shall be exempt for both reading and writing sections of the TSI Assessment. A minimum score of 530 on the mathematics test shall be exempt for the mathematics section of the TSI Assessment. There is no minimum combined EBRW and mathematics score.
      (ii) Mixing or combining scores from the SAT administered prior to March 5, 2016, and the SAT administered on or after March 5, 2016, is not allowable.
    (C) GED: minimum score of 165 on the Mathematical Reasoning subject test shall be exempt for the mathematics section of the TSI Assessment. A minimum score of 165 on the Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA) subject test shall be exempt for the English Language Arts Reading (ELAR) section of the TSI Assessment.
    (D) HiSET: minimum score of 15 on the Mathematics subtest shall be used to determine exemption on the mathematics section of the TSI Assessment. A minimum score of 15 on the Reading subtest and a minimum score of 15 on the Writing subtest, including a minimum score of 4 on the essay, shall be exempt for the English Language Arts Reading (ELAR) section of the TSI Assessment.
    (E) STAAR End of Course Test. A student who achieves a minimum score of 4000 on STAAR English III EOC shall be exempt for both reading and writing. A student who achieves a minimum score of 4000 on STAAR Algebra II EOC shall be exempt from mathematics.
(c) A student who has met one of the following criteria shall be exempt from the requirements of the Texas Success Initiative for the respective content area in which they have demonstrated college readiness. The following chart contains the full list of course and program completions and eligible exemptions.
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  (1) A student who successfully completes a college preparatory course under Texas Education Code, §28.014, is exempt for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the date of high school graduation with respect to the content area of the course, under the following conditions:
    (A) The student enrolls in the student's first college-level course in the exempted content area in the student's first year of enrollment in an institution of higher education; and
    (B) The student enrolls at the institution of higher education:
      (i) that partnered with the school district in which the student is enrolled to provide the course, or
      (ii) with an institution that deems the student TSI-met based on the completion of a course that meets the requirements of subsection (c)(1) of this section.
  (2) A student who has previously enrolled in any public, private, or independent institution of higher education or an accredited out-of-state institution of higher education and:
    (A) has met college readiness standards in mathematics, reading, or writing as determined by the receiving institution, or
    (B) who has satisfactorily completed college-level coursework in mathematics, reading, or writing with a grade of 'C' or better, including a high school student who has earned college credit for a dual credit course or a course offered under §4.86 of this chapter (relating to Optional Dual Credit or Dual Enrollment Program: College Connect Courses), with a grade of 'C' or better.
  (3) A student who has earned the Texas First Diploma under chapter 21, subchapter D of this title (relating to Texas First Early High School Completion Program).
(d) An institution may exempt a non-degree-seeking or non-certificate-seeking student not otherwise exempt under this section.
(e) In accordance with the requirements of this subchapter, an institution shall not require a student who is exempt in mathematics, reading, and/or writing or to whom this subchapter is inapplicable under §4.52 of this subchapter (relating to Applicability) to be assessed under this subchapter or to enroll in developmental coursework or interventions in the corresponding area of exemption. This limitation does not restrict an institution from advising a student to complete additional coursework or interventions to increase the likelihood of the student's success in completing the courses and program in which the student enrolls.
(f) ESOL Waiver--An institution may grant a temporary waiver from the assessment required under this title for students with demonstrated limited English proficiency in order to provide appropriate ESOL/ESL coursework and interventions. The waiver must be removed after the student attempts 15 credit hours of developmental ESOL coursework at a public junior college, public technical institute, or public state college; nine (9) credit hours of developmental ESOL coursework at a general academic teaching institution; or prior to enrolling in entry-level academic coursework, whichever comes first, at which time the student would be assessed by the institution with a Board-approved instrument as defined by §4.56 of this subchapter (relating to Texas Success Initiative Assessment Instrument). Funding limits as defined in Texas Education Code, §51.340, for developmental education still apply.

Source Note: The provisions of this §4.54 adopted to be effective May 16, 2024, 49 TexReg 3243