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Signed Into Law
Signed June 20, 2025Effective 2025-09-01
SB1191

Regular Session

Relating to the development of a standard method of computing a student's high school grade point average.

Government Affairs & Regulatory Compliance Analysis

SB1191: Government Affairs Overview

SB 1191 strips school districts of local authority to determine GPA weighting, mandating a uniform state calculation method enforced by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). This legislation compels districts to assign equal weight to AP, IB, OnRamps, and Academic Dual Credit courses, while legally requiring a differentiated weight for Workforce Dual Credit courses. This change directly impacts class rank calculations, automatic college admissions (Top 10% Rule), and necessitates immediate reconfiguration of Student Information Systems (SIS).

Sen. Charles Creighton·Senate Bill·Regular Session

Moderate
Low Cost
Effective:2025-09-01
Business Impact

Who SB1191 Affects

This legislation has regulatory implications for the following Texas businesses and organizations:

Regulatory Priority: moderate

Notable regulatory updates (effective 2025-09-01). Consider how these changes may affect your operations.

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Education

Affected business types:

  • School districts
  • Charter schools
  • Private schools
  • Education service providers
View all education legislation

Key Operational Considerations

  • 1Counseling Protocols: Academic advisors must update guidance protocols to inform students how specific Dual Credit choices will mathematically impact their class rank under the new state formula.

Estimated Cost Impact

lowMinimal cost impact anticipated.

Enforcing Agencies

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SB1191
Moderate
Relating to the development of a standard method of computing a student's high school grade point average.
Moderate Compliance Urgency
Requires near-term attention
Cost Impact
Low
Effective
2025-09-01
Enforcing Agencies
TEA
Primary Author: Sen. Charles Creighton
89th Texas Legislature
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Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

  • Effective Date: September 1, 2025
  • Compliance Deadline: Operational compliance is triggered immediately upon the release of the Commissioner’s standard method. Districts must be prepared to implement for the 2026-2027 school year, pending rulemaking speed.
  • Agency Rulemaking: The TEA Commissioner is mandated to develop the calculation method "as soon as practicable" after September 1, 2025. A "regulatory gray zone" will exist between the effective date and the final adoption of the formula, likely spanning Fall 2025 to Spring 2026.

Immediate Action Plan

  • Audit Course Data: Immediately segregate Dual Credit courses into "Academic" vs. "Workforce" lists based on WECM codes.
  • Notice to Vendors: Send formal notice to your SIS provider citing SB 1191 and requesting their product roadmap for compliance by Q3 2025.
  • Lobby Rulemaking: Participate in the TEA rulemaking process to advocate for a "cohort-based" implementation (freshmen only) to avoid re-ranking current seniors.
  • Update Handbooks: Draft provisional language for Student/Parent Handbooks warning that GPA calculations are subject to change pending state rulemaking.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

  • SIS Vendor Agreements: Review contracts with providers (e.g., Skyward, PowerSchool). Determine if state-mandated algorithm updates are covered under standard maintenance or trigger "customization" fees.
  • Dual Credit MOUs: Update Memoranda of Understanding with Community Colleges. Agreements must explicitly categorize courses as either "Academic" (transferable) or "Workforce" (WECM) to ensure accurate GPA coding.

Hiring/Training

  • Registrar Training: Staff must be retrained to code Dual Credit courses based on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s *Workforce Education Course Manual* (WECM) status, rather than local policy.
  • Counseling Protocols: Academic advisors must update guidance protocols to inform students how specific Dual Credit choices will mathematically impact their class rank under the new state formula.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

  • Course Catalog Audit: Districts must immediately audit course catalogs to tag all Dual Credit offerings as either Category A (Academic/Equal Weight) or Category B (Workforce/Different Weight).
  • Transcript Standardization: Transcripts must be reformatted to display the GPA derived strictly from the Commissioner’s standard method once released.

Fees & Costs

  • Vendor Surcharges: While the legislative fiscal note anticipates no cost, districts should budget for potential software reconfiguration fees from EdTech vendors.
  • Litigation Reserves: Districts should anticipate potential legal challenges regarding class rank and valedictorian status during the transition year.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

  • Grandfathering: The statute contains no "phase-in" clause. It is unclear if the new method applies to current high school students or only incoming freshmen. This is a high-risk area for class rank litigation.
  • Weight Differential: The law requires Workforce Dual Credit to have a "different" weight but does not specify if it must be lower or higher than academic courses.
  • Exclusivity: It is undefined whether districts may maintain a secondary "Local GPA" for internal honors, or if the State method preempts all other calculations.

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Information presented is for general knowledge only and is provided without warranty, express or implied. Consult qualified government affairs professionals and legal counsel before making compliance decisions.

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Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

Filed
Feb 10, 2025
Passed Senate
Apr 16, 2025
Passed House
May 28, 2025
Signed
Jun 20, 2025
Effective
Sep 1, 2025
TopicsEducationEducation--higherEducation--higher--admission & AttendanceEducation--primary & SecondaryEducation--primary & Secondary--curriculumEducation--school DistrictsEducation, Commissioner of
03

Senate Authors

Sen. Charles CreightonRepublican · Primary Author
Coauthors (1)

House Sponsor

Rep. Caroline Harris DavilaRepublican · Primary Sponsor

Bill Text(with markup)

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

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Related by Topic

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Quick Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about SB1191

Q

What does Texas SB1191 do?

SB 1191 strips school districts of local authority to determine GPA weighting, mandating a uniform state calculation method enforced by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). This legislation compels districts to assign equal weight to AP, IB, OnRamps, and Academic Dual Credit courses, while legally requiring a differentiated weight for Workforce Dual Credit courses. This change directly impacts class rank calculations, automatic college admissions (Top 10% Rule), and necessitates immediate reconfiguration of Student Information Systems (SIS).

Q

Who authored SB1191?

SB1191 was authored by Texas Senator Charles Creighton during the Regular Session.

Q

When was SB1191 signed into law?

SB1191 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Q

Which agencies enforce SB1191?

SB1191 is enforced by Texas Education Agency (TEA).

Q

How significant are the changes in SB1191?

The regulatory priority for SB1191 is rated as "moderate". Businesses and organizations should review the legislation to understand potential impacts.

Q

What is the cost impact of SB1191?

The cost impact of SB1191 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

Q

What topics does SB1191 address?

SB1191 addresses topics including education, education--higher, education--higher--admission & attendance, education--primary & secondary and education--primary & secondary--curriculum.

Q

What are the key dates for SB1191?

Key dates for SB1191: Effective date is 2025-09-01. Rulemaking: Develop a mandatory standard method for computing high school GPA that assigns specific, equal weights to AP, IB, OnRamps, and academic dual credit courses, while differentiating weights for workforce dual credit courses. (As soon as practicable after 2025-09-01). Consult with legal counsel regarding applicability.

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JD Key Consulting is an Austin, Texas-based government affairs firm led by James Dickey, former Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas. We specialize in Texas regulatory compliance and legislative strategy for data centers, energy, banking, and manufacturing.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: January 11, 2026