By Shelley Kofler, KERA News
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Dallas, TX – It appears a deal has been struck at the state capitol to adopt a change in the top ten percent college admissions rule. It currently guarantees high school students graduating in the top ten percent admission to the college of choice. KERA's Shelley Kofler reports on the debate taking place in the House.
On the House floor Representative Lon Burnham reminded the top ten percent rule was adopted to increase minority enrollment at Texas universities.
Burnham: This ten percent rule unfortunately has been one of the best tools we've had to use over the past decade.
The Fort Worth Democrat said he's concerned a change will lead to less minority enrollment.
Despite that objection key legislators confirm an agreement has been reached that would allow a university to limit top ten enrollment to 75 percent of a freshman class. The University of Texas at Austin has pushed for even more flexibility saying more than 80 percent of its freshman are admitted because of the rule and other qualified students can't be considered.
The compromise includes a clause forcing lawmakers to reconsider the issue sometime in the future. Differences between the House and Senate versions would have to be ironed out.