College Readiness Standards (CRS)

Texas College Readiness Standards

Adopted by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Over the past decade, Texas has focused on ensuring that its students are prepared for a changing and increasingly complex future. In elementary and middle school, tests results have improved, especially among students of color, and more students of all backgrounds are entering and completing post-secondary education programs. However, despite these substantial gains, Texas trails other states in preparing and sending students to post-secondary education. It is also clear that K-12 students, along with their parents, are uncertain about what they must know and what intellectual skills they must possess to be successful beyond high school. Recognizing the importance of a world class education, the 79th Texas Legislature, Third Called Special Session, passed House Bill 1, the “Advancement of College Readiness in Curriculum.” Section 28.008 of the Texas Education Code seeks to increase the number of students who are college ready when they graduate high school. The legislation required the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to establish Vertical Teams (VTs) to develop College Readiness Standards (CRS) in the areas of English/language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. These standards specify what students must know and be able to do to succeed in entry-level courses at post-secondary institutions in Texas. Vertical teams were composed of secondary and post-secondary faculty. In 2007, the VTs met in February, March, June, and August and developed draft standards to present to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). At its October 2007 meeting, Board members approved posting of the draft standards for public comment. Over 1500 comments were received and these were reviewed when the VT’s prepared their final drafts. The final drafts were submitted to the Commissioner of Higher Education who presented them to the THECB for adoption at its January 2008 meeting. The CRS were approved unanimously and now go to the Commissioner of Education and the State Board of Education for approval and alignment with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). January 24, 2008