(a) For the purpose of this section and §4.54(b)(1) of this subchapter (relating to Exemption), the Board shall approve a passing standard ("cut score") on an assessment that corresponds to a 70-75% likelihood of a student earning an 'A', 'B', or 'C' in a college level course for which the assessment instrument is used to establish college readiness.
(b) Effective the institution's first class day of fall 2017, for a student who is not otherwise exempt under this subchapter, the institution shall use the following minimum college readiness standards (also known as "cut scores") for reading, mathematics, and writing on the TSI Assessment (TSIA) to determine a student's readiness to enroll in entry-level freshman coursework:
  (1) Reading 351;
  (2) Mathematics 350; and
  (3) Writing:
    (A) a placement score of at least 340, and an essay score of at least 4; or
    (B) a placement score of less than 340 and an ABE Diagnostic level of at least 4 and an essay score of at least 5.
(c) Effective January 11, 2021, for a student who is not otherwise exempt under this subchapter, an institution shall use the following minimum college readiness standards (also known as "cut scores") for English Language Arts Reading (ELAR) and mathematics on the TSI Assessment, Version 2.0 (TSIA2) to determine a student's readiness to enroll in entry-level academic coursework:
  (1) Mathematics (for college-level coursework with mathematics-intensive designation by the offering institution):
    (A) a College Readiness Classification (CRC) score of at least 950; or
    (B) a CRC score below 950 and a Diagnostic level of 6.
  (2) ELAR (for college-level coursework with reading, writing, or reading and writing-intensive designation by the offering institution):
    (A) a College Readiness Classification (CRC) score of at least 945 and an essay score of at least 5; or
    (B) a CRC score below 945 and a Diagnostic level of 5 or 6 and an essay score of at least 5.
(d) An institution shall use the TSI Assessment (TSIA or TSIA2) diagnostic results, along with other holistic factors, in their consideration of courses and/or interventions addressing the educational and training needs of undergraduate students not meeting the college readiness standards as defined in subsections (a) - (c) of this section.
(e) An institution shall not require higher or lower college readiness standards on any or all portions of the TSI Assessment (TSIA or TSIA2) to determine a student's readiness to enroll in entry-level academic coursework.
(f) For a student with an existing plan for academic success as required in §4.58 of this title (relating to Advisement and Plan for Academic Success), the institution shall revise the plan as needed to align with the college readiness standards as defined in subsections (a) - (c), as applicable, of this section.

Source Note: The provisions of this §4.57 adopted to be effective May 16, 2024, 49 TexReg 3243