Senate Bill (SB) 1843, Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) Overview and Reporting Requirements
October 19, 2018
TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED:
Subject: Senate Bill (SB) 1843, Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) Overview and Reporting Requirements
There is a new process to report ASVAB Career Exploration Program data through PEIMS. Local Education Agencies (LEAs) will need to alert the person responsible for PEIMS submissions to ensure compliance.
Required Reporting
The Texas Education Data Standards (TEDS) have been updated to provide a mechanism for LEAs to report information required by SB 1843. The ASVAB Indicator Code must be reported in the 2018-2019 Fall PEIMS collection. The code reported will indicate one of the following:
- The district or open-enrollment charter school does not offer the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test or an alternative exploration test;
- The district or open-enrollment charter school offers the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test; or
- The district or open-enrollment charter school offers an alternative career exploration test.
The attached document provides specific details regarding the reporting of the ASVAB indicator code.
SB 1843 Overview
SB 1843 requires that each school year each school district and open-enrollment charter school provide students in Grades 10 through 12 an opportunity to take the ASVAB Career Exploration Program (CEP) test and consult with a military recruiter. School districts and open-enrollment charter schools must:
- Schedule the ASVAB during normal school hours; and
- Schedule the ASVAB at a time that limits conflict with extracurricular activities.
Additionally, SB 1843 requires that school districts and open enrollment charter schools communicate the date, time and location of testing to students and their parent/guardians.
A school district or open enrollment charter school may elect not to provide the ASVAB test, if the school district or open-enrollment charter school provides an alternative test that:
- Assesses a student's aptitude for success in a career field other than a career field that requires postsecondary education;
- Is free to administer;
- Requires minimal training and support of school district or open-enrollment charter school faculty and staff to administer the test; and
- Provides the student with a professional interpretation of the test results that allows the student to:
- Explore occupations that are consistent with the student's interests and skills; and
- Develop strategies to attain the student's career goals.
If a school district or open-enrollment charter school entered into a contract prior to 9/1/17, under which a vocational aptitude test that does not comply with the requirements for an alternative test outlined above, then the school district, open-enrollment charter school, or high school may elect not to provide the ASVAB for the term of the contract. On the expiration of the contract term, the requirements outlined in this letter become applicable to the school district, open-enrollment charter school or high school.
Finally, SB 1843 requires that no later than August 1st of each year the Texas Education Agency (TEA) publish a list of school districts and open-enrollment charter schools that elect not to provide the ASVAB test during the previous school year.
Information and resources regarding ASVAB may be found on the TEA ASVAB website. Please contact ASVAB@tea.texas.gov with questions or for additional assistance.