H.B. No. 4701 proposes amendments to the Education Code regarding undergraduate admissions processes in Texas. The bill allows high school students in the 11th or 12th grade to select and take, at state cost, a nationally recognized college admission assessment, such as the SAT, ACT, or Classic Learning Test (CLT). This is in addition to existing assessments administered in the 8th and 10th grades aimed at preparing students for high school and measuring their readiness for college and the workplace.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the criteria for admission to general academic teaching institutions by allowing applicants who graduated in the top 10 percent of their high school class to qualify based on their performance on standardized tests. Specifically, it introduces new benchmarks for the ACT, SAT, and CLT, including a minimum score of 1,500 on the SAT or 71 on the CLT. These changes will take effect for admissions starting in the fall semester of 2026, while previous laws will remain in effect for earlier admissions.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 39.0261, Education Code 51.803, Education Code 54.241 (Education Code 54, Education Code 51, Education Code 39)