SB+175+Texas+Legislature+81st+Session

SB 175

“ Relating to the automatic admission of undergraduate students to certain general academic teaching institutions and to scholarship and other programs to facilitate enrollment at institutions of higher education.”
 * Text: **

Texas House Bill 588, passed in 1997 when George W. Bush was the Governor of Texas, allows for the top ten percent of high school graduates to be automatically admitted to a Texas public university. It was adopted after a federal appeals court decision made affirmative action, which refers to policies that take gender, race, or ethnicity into consideration in an attempt to promote equal opportunity, illegal in Texas college admissions. For this fall’s University of Texas freshmen admissions, 81 percent are in the top 10 percent of their graduating high school class. Out of state admissions equal 8.7 percent which leaves 10.3 percent for non top 10 percent students. Because the percentage of applicants admitted that are not in the top 10 is so low, the Top 10 Percent rule has been forced to be reevaluated.
 * Background: **

The author of Texas Senate Bill 175 is Texas State Senator, Florence Shapiro. She is considered to be one of the strongest advocates for education reform.
 * Outline of SB 175: **

Sponsors of this bill include Representative Daniel Branch and Senator Shapiro. Senator Jane Gray Nelson, Senator Dan Patrick, Senator Kel Seliger, and Senator Earl Wentworth are cosponsors. Originally Texas Senate Bill 175 called for the reform of House Bill 588 by limiting the maximum of incoming freshman in the top 10 percent to 50 percent. After the bill was heard by the Senate, the maximum percentage changed to 60 percent before moving into the House for consideration. The House concluded that the final maximum number of freshman admissions will be 75 percent, which leaves 10 percent for out of state applicants and 15 percent for those not in the top ten percent of their high school class. Those 15 percent will be admitted on SAT or ACT scores, athletics, artistic abilities, and other criteria that prove the student is involved in school and community activities. After the academic year 2015-2016 this legislation will be reexamined.

This bill would also create a scholarship program for those students graduating in the top 10 percent of their high school class. To be eligible, the student will have to have graduated from a Texas public or private school and be ranked in the top 10 percent, have graduated on the recommended or advanced curriculum, have applied as a first time freshman for 2010- 2011 school year, have been awarded a TEXAS grant, be a resident of Texas, and consent to any other eligibility requirements. Senate Bill 175 will also require all high schools to post appropriate signs in each counselor’s office, principal’s office, and in administration buildings regarding automatic admission into a Texas college. Each counselor will be supplied with the details regarding this bill and will be required to notify students upon high school registration of the contents of Senate Bill 175. When a student becomes eligible, the counselor will have to advise and explain the substance of this legislation. This legislation will become effective immediately. HB 52 Texas House Bill 52 is similar to Senate Bill 175. In its text, it limits the automatic admissions of undergraduates under the Top 10 Percent rule. Daniel Branch is the author. Supporters argue that SB 175 will maintain the advantages of the Top 10 Percent Rule while also allowing Texas universities to accept other qualified students who meet admissions expectations. Since 1997 when the Top 10 Percent Law was put into legislation, Texas universities have had to accept all students who apply that graduate in the top 10 percent of their class. Those students who do not fall into that category are penalized. Very bright, talented, and qualified students are being squeezed out of the popular Texas colleges because such a large number of students accepted are from automatic admissions due to the top ten percent law. Because the numbers of automatically accepted students are so high, Texas high school graduates are being forced to go out of state to receive a college education. More tier one schools need to be established to take pressure off the University of Texas. The University of Houston is one Texas University striding to meet this status. By capping the percentage of top 10 students admitted, colleges can accept students on other qualification and hopefully become more diverse. Opponents argue that the number of students admitted under Texas House Bill 588 should not be reformed. The goal was to construct a race-neutral way of admitting students and creating diversity; the Top 10 Percent Law meets this requirement. By basing admissions on class rank, it is apparent that the students have worked to reach their full potential. Universities, such as University of Texas, complain that they can no longer admit so many students under this law, but opponents say they have the option to expand the freshman class. Those that believe that admittance based on GPA alone is not fair are wrong. A high school student’s grade point average is a perfect guide of the student’s hard work. Statistics show that top 10 percent students outperform the other students who scored higher on entrance exams. Steven T. Poston, who wrote an article voicing his opinions on the Top 10 Percent Law, says “Statistics resoundingly show GPA is indeed a better indicator of future success than SAT scores.”
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 * Supporters Arguments: **
 * Opponents Arguments: **

Although Senate Bill 175 is a start to educational reform, 75% of applicants that will be accepted into Texas colleges under the Top 10 Percent Rule are still too much. The University of Texas only is allowed to accept 15% of applicants based on extra curricular activities and outstanding credentials, which is not a significant change from the previous 10%. Three quarters of UT’s incoming freshmen class will get accepted due to their GPA, and not what really matter, which should be a combination of grades, activities, character, motivation, and the many other attributes successful college students need.
 * Issues: **

[|Actions] (This link is the website for the timeline for Senate Bill 175)
 * Bill Stages: **

This bill passed all 7 stages required to become law.
 * Stages: **

Stage 1 The bill filed by Senator Shapiro on 11/10/2008. Stage 2 The bill was reported out of the Senate committee on Higher Education with vote of 4 Ayes, 1 Nays, 0 Present Not Voting, 0 Absent. 3/19/2009 Stage 3 The bill passed the Senate. 3/25/2009 Stage 4 The bill was reported out of House committee on Higher Education with vote of 7 Ayes, 1 Nays, 0 Present Not Voting, 1 Absent. 4/9/2009 Stage 5 The bill passed the House. 5/26/2009 Stage 6 The bill was sent to the governor to sign. 6/19/2009 Stage 7 The bill becomes law. Effective immediately [] [] [] [] [] [] []
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