Texas Administrative Code - Title 19 Education - Part 1 Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board - Chapter 4 Rules Applying to All Public Institutions of Higher Education in Texas - Subchapter C Texas Success Initiative - §4.54 Exemption

Sep 27, 2026

Section §4.54 (Texas Success Initiative) establishes how exemptions from Texas Success Initiative requirements are demonstrated and applied. It defines exemption criteria for students based on passing standards tied to approved assessments, including specific benchmark rules for ACT, SAT, GED, HiSET, and STAAR End of Course tests with distinct time windows and English/Reading and Mathematics thresholds. It also covers exemptions based on qualifying course completion, prior college enrollment, and earning specified Texas diplomas, including conditions for enrollment eligibility and content-area applicability.

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§4.54. Exemption

Subsection (a): Approved assessment and college readiness standard

Subsection (b)(1): Five-year exemption for ACT/SAT/GED/HiSET/STAAR EOC

Subsection (c): Exemptions based on course completion, prior enrollment, and Texas First Diploma

TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE: As in effect on 6/11/2025. TITLE 19. EDUCATION PART 1. TEXAS HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD CHAPTER 4. RULES APPLYING TO ALL PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN TEXAS SUBCHAPTER C. TEXAS SUCCESS INITIATIVE §4.54. Exemption. (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. 202401824-2. pdf ( 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 testshall 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 sub paragraph 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 testshall 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

FAQs

How does §4.54 require the Board to demonstrate an exemption under the Texas Success Initiative?

The Board ensures that the passing standard on each approved assessment meets the college readiness standard under §4.57(a).

What ACT benchmarks qualify a student for exemption, and how does the rule differ by test date?

For ACT before Feb 15, 2023, the student is exempt with a composite 23 and minimum 19 on the English test (for reading and writing) and/or 19 on mathematics (for math). For ACT on or after Feb 15, 2023, a combined score of 40 on English and Reading (E+R) exempts for reading and writing/ELAR, and a math score of 22 exempts for the mathematics section.

What types of criteria besides assessment scores can exempt a student from TSI requirements in a content area?

A student may be exempt after completing an approved college preparatory course for 24 months under specified conditions, after previously meeting readiness standards or completing college-level coursework in math/reading/writing with a grade of C or better, or by earning the Texas First Diploma under the referenced program.

Sep 27, 2026

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