The Texas Success Initiative (TSI)
The purpose of the Texas Success Initiative is to ensure that students enrolled in Texas public colleges and universities possess the academic skills needed to perform effectively in college-level coursework.
All students subject to the requirements of the Texas Success Initiative must take the TSI Assessment. Students must present scores to register for classes unless otherwise exempt, or are majoring in technical programs of less than 43 credit hours. NOTE: Students enrolling in the General Studies certificate are NOT exempt and are subject to the requirements of the Texas Success Initiative.
The LSCO Testing Center is dedicated to providing students ample opportunities to obtain TSI scores necessary for late enrollment through the official census day.
Applicability of TSI
The TSI requirements does not apply to the following:
(1) A student who has earned an associate or baccalaureate degree from an institution of higher education;
(2) A student who transfers to an institution of higher education from a private or independent institution of higher education or an accredited out-of-state institution of higher education and who has satisfactorily completed college-level coursework in the corresponding subject area, as transcribed or otherwise determined by the receiving institution;
(3) A student who is enrolled in a certificate program of one year or less at a public junior college, a public technical institute, or a public state college;
(4) A student enrolled in high school who is a non-degree-seeking student as defined in §4.53(8) of this subchapter (relating to Definitions);
(5) A student who is serving on active duty as a member of the armed forces of the United States, the Texas National Guard, or as a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States; or
(6) A student who on or after August 1, 1990, was honorably discharged, retired, or released from active duty as a member of the armed forces of the United States or the Texas National Guard or service as a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States.
A student who achieves the passing standard on an assessment as set out in the graphic below shall be deemed exempt from the requirements of the Texas Success Initiative. An exempt student, that meets the criteria included below shall not be required to provide any additional demonstration of college readiness and shall be allowed to enroll in an entry-level academic course.
| ASSESSMENT EXEMPTIONS |
| Assessment Type |
Assessment Version |
Minimum Score |
Combined? |
TSI Exemption |
Exemption Expiration |
| ACT |
| ACT Composite + English |
Prior to 2/15/2023 |
Composite 23 and English 19 |
May combine with scores on test administered after 2/15/2023 |
English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR) section |
5 years from date of test |
| ACT Composite + Math |
Prior to 2/15/2023 |
Composite 23 and Math 19 |
N/A |
Mathematics Section |
5 years from date of test |
| ACT Math |
After 2/15/2023 |
Score of 22; No Composite |
N/A |
Mathematics Section |
5 years from date of test |
| ACT English + Reading |
After 2/15/2023 |
Combined score of 40; No Composite |
May combine with scores on test administered prior to 2/15/2023 |
ELAR Section |
5 years from date of test |
| SAT |
| SAT Evidence-Based Reading & Writing (EBRW) |
After 3/5/2016 |
EBRW 480 |
Not allowable |
ELAR Section |
5 years from date of test |
| SAT Mathematics |
After 3/5/2016 |
Math 530 |
Not allowable |
Mathematics Section |
5 years from date of test |
| GED |
| GED Mathematical Reasoning |
|
Mathematical Reasoning 165 |
N/A |
Mathematics Section |
5 years from date of test |
| GED Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA) |
|
RLA 165 |
N/A |
ELAR Section |
5 years from date of test |
| HiSET |
| HiSET Mathematics Subtest |
|
Math Subtest minimum of 15 |
N/A |
Mathematics Section |
5 years from date of test |
| HiSET Reading Subtest, Writing Subtest, and Essay |
|
Reading minimum of 15, Writing minimum of 15, and Essay minimum of 4 |
N/A |
ELAR Section |
5 years from date of test |
| STAAR EOC |
| STAAR EOC - English III |
|
English III EOC 4000 |
N/A |
ELAR Section |
5 years from date of test |
| STAAR EOC - Algebra II |
|
Algebra II EOC 4000 |
N/A |
Mathematics Section |
5 years from date of tes |
A student who has met one of the criteria included on the graphic below shall be deemed exempt from the respective content area in which they demonstrate college readiness. The following chart contains the full list of courses and program completions and eligible exemptions.An exempt student, that meets the criteria included below shall not be required to provide any additional demonstration of college readiness and shall be allowed to enroll in an entry-level academic course.
| COURSE AND PROGRAM COMPLETION EXEMPTIONS |
| Student Category |
Institution Where Course or Program Completed |
Applicability |
Exemption |
Exemption Expiration |
| High school student who successfully completes College Prep Course (TEC 28.014) |
School district partners with any public, private, independent institution of higher education |
Applies at the institution of higher education that partners with the school district in which the student is enrolled to provided course(s), or at an institution that accepts the students as TSI-met bsed on course completion |
Corresponding English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR) and/or Mathematics sections |
24 months from date of high school graduation and the student must enroll in college-level course in exempted content within first year of enrollment at institution |
| Student enrolled and met readiness standards in mathematics and/or ELAR by institution |
Any Texas public, private, independent institution of higher education or accredited out-of-state institution |
Student has met college readiness standards in mathematics, reading, or writing as determined by receiving institution |
Corresponding ELAR and/or Mathematics sections |
No Expiration |
| Student completed college level coursework with C or better |
Any Texas public, private, independent institution of higher education or accredited out-of-state institution |
A student with a transcribed grade of “C” or better is not subject to TSI in accordance with TAC Rule 4.52 (b) |
Corresponding ELAR and/or Mathematics secionts |
No Expiration |
| College level coursework in a dual credit course as defined by TAC Rule 4.83 (11), including a College Connect dual credit course offered under TAC Rule 4.86 with C or better |
Any Texas public institution of higher education |
A student with a transcribed grade of “C” or better is not subject to TSI in accordance with TAC Rule 4.54 (c) (2) (b) |
Corresponding ELAR and/or Mathematics sections |
No Expiration |
| Student earned Texas First Diploma |
Any Texas public institution of higher education |
A student who has earned the Texas First Diploma is TSI-Exempt under TAC Rule 4.54 (c) (3) |
ELAR and Mathematics sections |
No Expiration |
All full-time and part-time students enrolled in a college-level certificate (see advisors for exceptions) or degree program must take the TSI Assessment for reading, writing, and mathematical skills unless they qualify for an eligible exemption as previously described.
Pre-collegiate courses, such as developmental reading, writing, and math, are not counted in calculating the credit hours for meeting testing requirements. For further information please contact the Testing Center at (409) 882-3330.
Placement scores for the TSI Assessment
Placement scores for the TSIA2 Assessment
TSI Restricted Courses
Some academic courses are blocked from enrollment based on TSI requirements. In such instances, students must pass the appropriate section on an approved TSIA or TSIA2 test or complete the required corequisite course sequence to become eligible to enroll in the courses that are blocked. Restricted courses in each TSI area (reading, writing, and math) are outlined below:
Students must be TSI complete in reading and writing to enroll in:
Students must be TSI complete in mathematics to enroll in:
Students whose previous Texas public college or university has determined that they have met minimum passing standards in reading, writing, and/or math are exempt in the curricular area/s indicated but must develop and pursue an Academic Success Plan in any remaining area/s. An official transcript or other appropriate documentation of status must be submitted.
Students who have completed a TSI restricted course previously listed from a regionally accredited college or university earning a grade of C or higher are exempt in the curricular area of that course but must develop and pursue an academic success plan with an advisor in any remaining area/s.
THECB defines “college readiness” as a 70% likelihood of a student achieving a grade of A, B, or C in an entry-level college-credit course, as measured by meeting certain benchmarks on the SAT, ACT, TSIA, or STAAR English III, or Algebra II EOCs. Once students meet one or more of these benchmarks, they are considered “college-ready,” regardless of their performance in the college-level course. College readiness is determined by subject area.
Dual credit eligibility allows a high school student, who has not met the “college readiness” benchmark, to enroll in an entry-level college course offered for dual credit. Students who are “dual credit eligible” are not considered “college-ready” until they earn a grade of A, B, or C in mathematics and/or college-level course designated as reading and/or writing-intensive.
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