| Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
Relating to the automatic admission to general academic teaching institutions and eligibility for certain scholarships of a student who is the valedictorian of the student's high school graduating class.
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
HB 539 would specifically state that a student who graduates as valedictorian in their school is entitled to automatic admission to a public university in Texas. This bill also emphasizes a valedictorian's eligibility for a scholarship. Current law already states that if any student graduates in the top 10 percent of their high school class, they are eligible for automatic admission and scholarship.
Texas Action remains neutral on HB 539 because it does not apply to any of our principles. This bill, however, does close a loophole in the current law for schools that have graduating classes of less than 10 students. HB 539 is consistent with the spirit of the original intent of the current law.