TEXAS SUCCESS INITIATIVE

Texas Success Initiative

What is TSI?

When must students take a TSI test?

Who must take the TSI test?

Who is exempt?

Who qualifies for a waiver (temporary exemption)?

What is an exemption by subject area?

What happens if a student does not pass?

Which tests have been approved for the TSI?

What are the required scores?

Which courses have been approved for the TSI?

Chart I

Chart II

TEXAS SUCCESS INITIATIVE (TSI)

WHAT IS TSI?

Students attending Texas public institutions of higher education must be in compliance with the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) which replaced the Texas Academic Skills Program in the Fall of 2003.  The law requires all entering college students to be assessed for college readiness in mathematics, reading, and writing unless the student qualifies for an exemption.  Each student who fails to meet the minimum passing standard of the assessment instrument must be advised regarding developmental education necessary to ensure readiness to perform college level academic course work and will be placed in a developmental program designed to help the student reach that goal.  The following information is provided to help students determine what is needed to comply with the Texas Success initiative at Sam Houston State University.

WHEN MUST STUDENTS TAKE A TSI TEST?

Students must take a TSI Test and have scores on file before they can enroll in college-level classes.  It is the student’s responsibility to inform the institution of his/her exemption.

WHO MUST TAKE THE TSI TEST?

                  Students who are:

• entering or enrolled in a Texas public institution of higher learning and are not exempt;

• exempt in only one subject area (they must test in the other areas); or

• in a teacher education program.

For more information on taking the Quick THEA or Accuplacer Test, the Testing Center can be contacted by e-mailing Test.Ctr@shsu.edu or by telephone (936) 294-1025.  See www.shsu.edu, click on University Fast links then click on Testing Center.

WHO IS EXEMPT FROM TAKING A TSI TEST?

                  Students who:

• have earned an associate (AA or AS) or a baccalaureate (BA or BS) degree from a Texas public institution of higher education;

• have an ACT composite score of 23 or higher with a score of at least 19 on both the math and English sections (scores are good for five years from the original test date);

• have a re-centered SAT score of 1070 or higher with at least 500 on both the math and verbal sections (scores are good for five years from the original test date);

• scored at least TLI X-89 in reading, TLI X-86 in math and 1770 in writing on the TAAS Test (scores are good for three years from the original test date);

• scored 2200 on the ELA and math sections of the TAKS Test with a writing essay score of 3 (scores are good for three years from the original test date; scores must be TAKS EXIT LEVEL initial testing scores);

• transferred from outside Texas or from a private Texas college or university and successfully completed two reading intensive courses and an approved course in each of the math and writing portions of the TSI test (see Approved Courses below);

• are determined to have met readiness standards of a previous institution; or

• are serving on active duty in the military, the Texas National Guard, or the reserves or were honorably discharged, retired, or released from active duty in the military, the Texas National Guard, or the reserves after August 1, 1990.

Students who are exempt from TSI by the state’s guidelines above may still be subject to developmental coursework in math based on the Mathematics Department additional prerequisites for college level math placement (see Chart II below).  Students that are exempt based on their TAKS, TAAS, ACT, or SAT scores in the mathematics section will be placed according to their SAT and/or ACT scores (see Chart II below).

WHO QUALIFIES FOR A WAIVER (TEMPORARY EXEMPTION)?

Students who are:

• enrolled in a certificate program of one year or less; or

• not seeking a degree or certificate may be exempt at the discretion of the institution.

WHAT IS A TSI EXEMPTION BY SUBJECT AREA?

• An ACT composite score of 23 with a minimum of 19 on the English or the mathematics section shall exempt the appropriate section of tests taken within the last five years of when the test was taken.  However, the student must test in the area that was not exempt.

•  A SAT combined score of 1070 with a minimum of 500 on the verbal or the mathematics section shall exempt the appropriate section of tests taken within the last five years of when the test was taken.  However, the student must test in the area that was not exempt.

• A TAKS with a minimum of 2200 on the ELA (with a sub score of 3) or the mathematics test shall exempt the appropriate section of tests taken within the last three years of when the test was taken.  However, the student must test in the area that was not exempt.

WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF STUDENTS NOT PASSING ALL PARTS OF A TSI TEST AND WHEN MUST THEY BEGIN REMEDIATION?

• Students who fail sections of a TSI test or do not meet the Mathematics Department prerequisites for college level placement are required to take developmental courses.

• Students must enroll and participate in at least one developmental course each semester until they satisfy all TSI requirements (this includes the complete math developmental sequence for college level placement required by the Mathematics Department).

• Students who fail the reading portion of a TSI test must enroll in a developmental reading class before enrolling in any other developmental class.

Students are not required to remediate during the Summer Sessions.

WHICH TESTS HAVE BEEN APPROVED AS TSI TESTS?

The following tests have been approved:  (a) the ACCUPLACER, (b) ASSET, (c) the COMPASS, and (d) the THEA or Quick THEA.  Students must provide SHSU with official score reports of tests taken at another institution or a letter on the institution letterhead listing the scores and confirming they are official.

WHAT IS A PASSING TSI SCORE?

The following scores (Chart I) are considered passing TSI scores by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. 

For additional information, please visit http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/Rules/tac3.cfm?Chapter_ID=4&Subchapter=C  or go to www.thecb.state.tx.us, click on Laws/Rules (select Current Rules), click on Texas Success Initiative.

*See CHART II below for mathematics placement at SHSU.

Once the student has met TSI Compliance {they have a valid exemption or a passing score from an approved TSI test (Chart I)} then they are subject to math placement using the following institutional guidelines as determined by our SHSU Mathematics Department (Chart II):

*If a student has not met TSI Compliance with an approved exemption or with a passing TSI score (Chart I) in math, then they must be placed directly into MTH 031 regardless of their ACT/SAT math score.

WHAT ARE THE APPROVED COURSES USED TO SATISFY INDIVIDUAL SUBJECT TSI COMPLIANCE?

Two of the following reading intensive courses with a grade of “C” or better may be used to satisfy the Reading TSI:

One of the following English courses with a grade of “C” or better may be used to satisfy Writing TSI: 

One of the following math courses with a grade of “C” or better may be used to satisfy Math TSI: