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Advanced Academics includes courses, programs, assessments, services and supports that provide opportunities for students to demonstrate college and career readiness and earn postsecondary credit.
Welcome
This issue of the TEA Advanced Academics newsletter provides information on the following topics:
- AP Exam Orders and PSAT/NMSQT Information for Home School Students
- CCMR Outcomes Bonus Reports Updates
- LASO Cycle 3 - AP Computer Science Principles (AP CSP) Grant
- AP Exam Updates for 2024-2025
- Process to approve College Preparatory Courses for Accountability
- Dual Credit Updates
- ACT Updates
- SAT and PSAT/NMSQT
- Fall 2024 Advanced Academics Office Hours
- 2024-2025 AP-IB Exam Student Subsidy
- 2023-2024 AP-IB Incentive Program Funding
- Toolkits and Newsletters
- Advanced Academics Newsletter Impact Survey
2024-2025 Advanced Academics Kick-Off Webinar
Join the Advanced Academics team for the 2024-2025 Kick-off Webinar on October 3, 2024. This session will provide updates and explore various programs, courses, assessments, services, and supports for which TEA Advanced Academics staff provide guidance. Register to participate.
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College Preparation Courses and
Programs |
AP Exam Orders and PSAT/NMSQT Information for Home School Students
Under TEC §29.916, school districts are required to permit a home-schooled student the opportunity to participate in an administration of the PSAT/NMSQT or Advanced Placement (AP) tests offered by the district. The statute also requires school districts to post on a website or newspaper maintained by the district the date the PSAT/NMSQT will be administered and the dates any Advanced Placement tests will be administered. A school district must also inform the public through its website or local newspaper about the eligibility of home-schooled students to take these tests, and the registration procedures. This public notice should be posted or published concurrently with and as frequently as the notice provided to students within the school district.
CCMR Outcomes Bonus Reports Updates
An update has been published to advise school districts and open-enrollment charter schools (school systems) about several data reports related to the College, Career, or Military Readiness Outcomes Bonus (CCMR OB) now available for public transparency and to keep advancing performance and student success. Read the update here.
Digital AP Exam Subjects - Of the 28 digital exams in 2025, 16 will be fully digital and 12 will be hybrid digital. Find a list of exams here.
AP Exam Updates for 2024-2025
As announced to the AP community during July 2024, the AP Program is accelerating the transition to digital testing to ensure the continued security of AP Exams.
- Beginning in May 2025, paper testing will be discontinued for 28 AP Exams, which will transition to the Bluebook digital testing application. All schools must administer these exams digitally.
- AP coordinators and proctors will use the Test Day Toolkit web application to administer digital exams.
- For math, science, and economics exams requiring graphing or symbolic notation, students will view free-response questions and prompts in Bluebook but write their answers in paper exam booklets.
- Paper exams will be available for students with SSD-approved accommodations.
- Learn more about digital AP Exams, including answers to frequently asked questions. The FAQ website will be updated throughout the year with further details and supporting resources.
Read the latest updates related to May 2025 exams, exam schedules, exam fees, and other important updates for the 2024-25 school year.
LASO Cycle 3 - AP Computer Science Principles (AP CSP) Grant
In October 2024, TEA will continue offering streamlined and consolidated grant applications, concentrating on a select group of programs designed to accelerate academic progress. The Learning Acceleration Support Opportunities (LASO) initiative represents the next phase of a universal, consolidated application process that strategically groups grant funding opportunities, aimed at advancing learning acceleration and fostering innovation.
The LASO Cycle 3 program grants target three out of the five learning acceleration strategies: Curriculum & Instruction, More Time, and Innovative School Models. School Districts, and charter schools can apply for grants to implement, expand, and support AP Computer Science Principles for schools, teachers, and students. With this grant, school districts may partner with an ESC and other districts to form a multi-district shared services agreement.
The LASO Cycle 3 consolidated grant application will open on October 14, 2024, and close on December 13, 2024, at 5:00 P.M. CST. Learn more here.
Process to approve College Preparatory Courses for Accountability
During the 2024-2025 school year, the TEA will initiate a process to review and approve college preparatory courses provided by eligible institutions to demonstrate college readiness as part of the public-school accountability system. This process aims to ensure that College Preparatory courses, defined in Texas Education Code (TEC), §28.014, meet standards consistent with other indicators of college readiness.
To qualify as a College Preparatory Course for Accountability Provider Applicant, the service provider must fall into one of the following categories:
- Institution of Higher Education (IHE)
- An Education Service Center with a partnership agreement with an IHE to offer College Preparatory Courses that will be recognized by the partnering institution.
- Entities that hold Memorandums of Understanding with IHEs to provide College Preparatory Courses that will be recognized by the partnering institution.
To apply, an eligible College Prep Course for Accountability Provider must:
- Have served students in the 2021-2022 academic year and continue to serve students actively.
- Submit a Letter of Intent via Qualtrics to TEA, including three .csv files with data on previous College Prep Course Participation (District Information for 2021-2022, 2022-2023, and 2023-2024).
- Complete and submit a detailed application through Qualtrics to TEA.
- Undergo a thorough quality review of the application by TEA and faculty reviewers from across the state.
This process will result in the following for a school district:
- A list of approved College Preparatory Course for Accountability providers.
- Each College Preparatory Course for Accountability provider will receive a unique Service ID for districts and campuses to use when coding their participation in an approved College Preparatory Course for Accountability:
- Unique Service ID for College Preparatory Course English Language Arts
- Unique Service ID for College Preparatory Course Mathematics
- Ongoing oversight by TEA of student outcomes through data monitoring related to approved College Preparatory Course for Accountability participation.
Although the application will be completed and submitted by the service provider, TEA requests that school districts complete a survey, which will be shared soon, to affirm the service provider with whom the school district is currently working.
For more information about College Preparatory Courses for Accountability, please contact advancedacademics@tea.texas.gov
Dual Credit Updates
Recent updates have been made to the following related to dual credit:
- Definition of Dual Credit
- Eligibility for Dual Credit
- TSI Exemptions
Below are some key highlights from recent updates along with relevant links. A more in-depth discussion will take place during the October Advanced Academics Office Hours. Register here.
- Dual Credit Updates (Rule §4.83)
- Dual credit and dual enrollment are synonymous in Title 19, Part 1. A student may earn a single grade toward both the college course and the high school credit or earn two separate grades where the high school grade only reflects a student’s mastery of secondary content.
- Eligibility for Dual Credit (Rule §4.85)
- A high school student is eligible to enroll in dual credit courses if the student demonstrates college readiness by achieving the minimum passing standards under the provisions of the on relevant sections(s) of an TSI assessment instrument approved by the THECB, demonstrating that he or she is exempt under the Texas Success Initiative, is not a degree-seeking student, and or meets the eligibility requirements for the Texas First Diploma.
- TSI Exemption Updates (Rule §4.54)
- The criteria for exemption from TSI Assessment are based on performance on standardized tests (ACT, SAT, GED, HiSET, STAAR) or specific academic achievements. If students meet these criteria, they are considered college-ready and do not need to take additional assessments or developmental courses in the corresponding areas.
- Higher education institutions in Texas must honor exemptions from readiness assessments and cannot impose more on exempt students. However, they can recommend additional coursework to support students' success and help them be better prepared for their studies.
- The linked standards outline the criteria for exemptions from the Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA), which is used to determine college readiness for entry-level courses in Texas.
- Assessment Exemptions
- Course and Program Completion Exemptions
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College Preparation Assessments
Every high school student is eligible to participate in school-day college preparation assessments for the same cost regardless grade level or reimbursement eligibility. Only those who meet the HB3 criteria for one free assessment are qualified for a reimbursement. See requirement criteria here.
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ACT
Cost for School Day ACT
- The cost of the 2024-2025 School Day ACT test for Texas public high school students is $39.
- Seniors who test anytime during the year and juniors who test during the spring semester are eligible for the one-time HB3 college preparation assessment reimbursement.
ACT Webinars
Anticipated ACT Changes for 2025-2026
Changes are anticipated for the 2025-2026 academic year. The ACT's core sections will no longer include science, leaving English, reading, and math as the sections that contribute to a college-reportable composite score ranging from 1 to 36. The science section, like ACT’s writing section, will become optional in 2025-2026.
ACT Resources
SAT and PSAT/NMSQT
Cost for School Day SAT
- The cost of the 2024-2025 School Day SAT test for Texas public high school students is $41.
- Seniors who test anytime during the year and juniors who test during the spring semester are eligible for the one-time HB3 college preparation assessment reimbursement.
English Learner Supports
- The PSAT/NMSQT will now offer supports for English learners.
- English Learner supports are now available for the entire SAT School Day Suite.
- Requests for supports should be made approximately four weeks before testing.
PSAT/NMSQT testing may occur on a school day between the following dates
October 1–October 31, 2024, Schools may also choose to administer the PSAT/NMSQT on Saturday, October 12, 2024, or Saturday, October 26, 2024.
(Note: For fall 2024 only, the PSAT/NMSQT will be offered on two Saturdays to accommodate schools or students who cannot test on October 12 due to Yom Kippur.)
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College Preparation Services and
Supports |
Fall 2024 Advanced Academics Office Hours
Join the Advanced Academics team for Office Hours on the first Thursday of each month. These sessions provide updates and explore various programs, courses, assessments, services, and supports for which TEA Advanced Academics staff offer guidance. Register in advance for each Zoom meeting to participate. A confirmation email with details will be sent after registration.
2023-2024 AP-IB Incentive Program Funding
For the May 2024 exam administration, the AP exam fee subsidy reimbursements were applied as discounts on the district’s AP invoice.
Applications for the 2024 IB exam student subsidy reimbursement will be available on the International Baccalaureate (IB) | Texas Education Agency website by September 30, 2024. The application will remain open through October 31, 2024.
Applications for the 2024 Teacher Training Reimbursement (TTR), up to $450 for qualified AP and IB teacher registration fees, will be available on the Texas AP/IB Teacher Training Incentive | Texas Education Agency website by September 30, 2024. The application will remain open through October 31, 2024.
2024-2025 AP-IB Exam Student Subsidy
The Texas AP-IB Exam Student Subsidy program is designed to reduce the cost of AP exams for economically disadvantaged students in Texas. The specifics of the subsidy, such as the amount covered and eligibility criteria, will be detailed in a future To the Administrator Addressed correspondence. Subscribe here for updates.
Counselor Toolkits and Monthly Newsletters
Stay updated on AP, ACT, SAT, and TSIA by reviewing the resources provided by these college preparation assessment vendors:
Toolkits:
Newsletters:
Additional Resources
Quick Newsletter Impact Survey
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advancedacademics@tea.texas.gov
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