Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Tables Consideration of Uniform GPA Vote Until October 22, 2008: Now It is Critical to Send Your Comments

On September 6, I posted the following:

Another Attack on Local Control: The Higher Education Coordinating Board Proposes Rules that Would Significantly Impact the Calculation of the High School Grade Point Average

Following testimony at the The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Participation and Success Committee Meeting this morning that was nearly unanimous in its criticism of the proposed drastic changes in the manner in which GPAs are calculated, the committee voted to table consideration of the changes until October 22, 2008.

So now is the time for you to act. 

As I previously wrote, here is the THECB's proposed the method to be used to calculate GPAs, and it has some significant problems.  The proposed rules:

• Require a four-point scale,exclude local credit courses
• Include "academic courses included Chapters 110-114" of the Texas Administrative Code "regardless of when the course was taken.  The representative from TASB this morning correctly pointed out that there are many classes in the Recommended High School curriculum that would therefore not be included based on this limitation.
• Provide an additional weight of 1.0 for Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) and dual credit courses
• Require the GPA to be rounded to no more than three decimal places.

You can see the THECB's rationale for the rule changes here.

The proposed rules give NO WEIGHTS to Pre-AP classes.

In addition, the proposed rules give NO WEIGHTS to any career and technology classes.

Finally, it has been reported that THECB is considering implementing these rules with the incoming high school freshman class of 2009-10.  This seems particularly unfair to current middle school students taking Pre-AP classes.

It is unclear whether all of the courses listed in 19 TAC Chapters 110-114 would be considered "academic" for purposes of the uniform GPA methodology.

This issue has flown largely under the radar since the end of the 2007 Legislative Session.  However, it will really heat up over the next several weeks and months.

I encourage you to submit comments on these proposed rule changes.  Comments must be submitted to Natalie Coffey, Senior Program Director, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, P.O. Box 12788, Austin, Texas, 78711 within 30 days of the date of publication in the Texas Register by October 4, 2008.

Comments

[Laura H]

Thank you for providing a well written article. I have been trying to get this word out in the Dallas area for several weeks now, and I believe people do not understand the magnitude of this rule. Not only will the "Career" classes be eliminated from GPA calculation, but also all fine arts, physical education and several business classes as well. For one child I know, that means that only 18 of the 26 required credits she takes for graduation will be counted towards her GPA. Dr. Paredes is misguided in his efforts. To imply that fine arts, physical education, economics, architecture are " mostly irrelevant to what universities do," as Dr. Paredes said, is plain wrong.
I hope you continue to publish followups on this subject and perhaps link to the THECB website so that our readers can see all the data for themselves. I applaud the transparancy of the Board, as they will broadcast all their meetings by internet for the public to listen. I am glad you are encouraging others to take a stand.

[Allison Carter]

About the Uniform GPA proposed changes:

I wrote in to Ms. Coffey, and am still shaking my head over how shortsighted our state-level educators seem to be. My middle school child is in some pre-AP classes, but not others, so it's likely a wash in terms of how the proposed change would affect her GPA and class rank. Nevertheless, it should be obvious to anyone that higher-level work deserves a commensurate reward. It serves as incentive for students to stretch, and as a reward for those who persevere.

Sacrificing our kids' educational quality for the convenience of colleges and universities goes against everything our state educational board should stand for.

I'll concede that No Child Has Been Left Behind when the Higher Education Coordinating Board concedes it's because All Children Are Being Equalized to the Level of the Least Capable.