Dallas County Community College District TASP (Texas Academic Skills Program) Test

Texas Academic Skills Program and the Dallas Community Colleges

Distance learning students located outside Dallas, Texas may contact the distance learning advisor for more details.

As a result of State law, ALL students entering any Texas public college Fall 1998, or thereafter, must have either TASP, QuickTASP or state approved Alternate Assessment test scores on file prior to enrolling for college-level courses. Deaf students entering Fall 1995, or thereafter, are subject to all TASP regulations with the exception that they must take the Stanford Achievement Test rather than TASP, QuickTASP or Alternate Assessment.

1. What is TASP?

   TASP is both a test and a program to ensure Texas college students have the academic skills to be successful in college.

2. Who must take TASP?

   All students, unless otherwise exempt or waived, must participate in the TASP program.

3. Who is exempt or waived from TASP requirements?

   The following are exempt or waived:

   1. Students who earned at least three hours of college-level credit prior to Fall 1989;
   2. Students enrolled in certain certificate programs are waived from the requirements as long as they maintain such enrollment;
   3. Students who already have a baccalaureate degree;
   4. Students who have ACT/SAT/ or TAAS scores which meet state approved standards;
   5. Students who are enrolled in private or out-of-state institutions and who wish to remain only for one term/semester within the DCCCD;
   6. Students who are not seeking a degree AND are at least 55 years of age;
   7. International students who are not seeking a degree;
   8. Students with either certifiable math disorders or dyslexia may be exempt when approved by The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board as only that agency may grant such an exemption; and
   9. Out-of-state students involved in official distance education courses.
4. What happens if a student fails a section of TASP, QuickTASP, or Alternate Assessment?

   Students who fail either a section of the TASP, QuickTASP, or the DCCCD Alternate Assessment test must enroll and actively participate in developmental courses related to the failed area(s) or be dropped from college-level courses. (Concurrently enrolled high school students who take and fail a section of TASP, QuickTASP or DCCCD Alternate Assessment will not be required to take developmental courses as long as they are in high school.)

   Students must continue to participate in mandated developmental coursework until

   1. they pass the failed section of TASP or QuickTASP (please note that the DCCCD Alternate Assessment tests cannot be used for re-testing purposes), or
   2. they have completed the required developmental coursework at which time the college may release the student from further developmental courses.
5. When must all TASP requirements be met?

   Students must meet all TASP requirements prior to receiving a certificate (if TASP is required) or degree OR before taking junior/senior courses at a Texas public university.

6. How can the TASP requirements be met?

   Students may meet the TASP requirements in several ways:

   1. Pass all sections of TASP or QuickTASP;
   2. Pass all sections of the state approved DCCCD Alternate Assessment on the initial attempt;
   3. In the exact following order, take and fail a section of TASP or QuickTASP, complete all required developmental coursework with a grade of C or better, retake and fail the same section of TASP or QuickTASP, and then take and make a B or better in an approved, related college-level course; or
   4. In the exact following order, take and fail a section of the DCCCD Alternate Assessment, complete all required developmental coursework with a grade of C or better, retest with TASP or QuickTASP and fail the same subject area originally failed on the DCCCD Alternate Assessment, and then take and make a grade of B or better in an approved, related college-level course. Students attempting to meet the requirements through the third or fourth methods must check with the college TASP Coordinator to learn of all required steps to be met.
7. How is the test administered?

   Distance learning students located outside Dallas, Texas may contact the distance learning advisor for more details.
   
   The DCCCD Alternate Assessment and QuickTASP are offered at each DCCCD Appraisal/Testing Center throughout the year during various dates and times. Please contact your DCCCD campus Appraisal/Testing Center for specific information regarding DCCCD Alternate Assessment and QuickTASP test administration procedures. The TASP test is administered statewide at least six times a year. Students MUST register on forms available in the college Appraisal/Testing Center in order to take the TASP test. The on-time registration fee for TASP and QuickTASP is $29. A TASP study guide is available for purchase.

8. Will other institutions have my DCCCD Alternate Assessment scores?

   TASP, QuickTASP, and Alternate Assessment scores will be printed on an official Texas public college or university transcript. DCCCD students who take the DCCCD Alternate Assessment and later transfer to another Texas public college or university will have their scores honored by the receiving institution. Transfer students from another Texas public college or university to the DCCCD will have their state-approved alternate assessment scores honored by the DCCCD.

DCCCD TASP Coordinators who can assist you with information about TASP requirements:

It is the student's responsibility to be aware of all TASP requirements and to meet them.

*TASP rules are always subject to change.

Additional TASP information can be found at The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's Web site: http://www.thecb.state.tx.us

You can also visit National Evaluations Systems for a full-length practice test.

Students who fail a section of either the DCCCD Alternate Assessment, TASP or QuickTASP must enroll and actively participate in developmental courses related to the failed area(s) or be dropped from college-level courses. (Concurrently enrolled high school students will not be mandated to take developmental courses while in high school.) Students must continue to participate in mandated developmental coursework until

No student may receive a degree nor certain certificates without having met the TASP requirements. No student may take junior or senior level courses at a Texas public university without having met the TASP requirements