In September 2003, the Texas Assessment Skills Policy (TASP) test was changed by the State of Texas to the Texas Success Initiative.

"It gives students more choices when setting up their schedule,” said Susan A. Espinoza, Coordinator of Assessment. “But be careful with falling behind in your areas.”

When students first enroll in school, they are tested to determine if remediation courses are needed. The Texas Success Initiative is a variety of tests students can take upon enrollment such as the Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA), the Accuplacer Test,

the Asset Test or the Compass Test. Most students choose to take the Accuplacer or the Asset because they are less expensive and are offered three times a week.

“I think it’s a good way to help students focus on their other important subjects in order to graduate faster,” said Krystle Zapata, a freshman at Palo Alto College. “It is also good to know that your money is going toward a credit class rather than a non-credit class.”

Although students can put off taking remedial courses, they may not enroll in college-level courses if their scores are not sufficient in math, reading or writing, depending upon the course’s standards.

The THEA test was originally going to take the place of the TASP test, but now students may select one of the four tests. The same subjects are being tested: math, reading and writing.

“It opens up the education and puts the student in the driver seat, rather than the institution dictating what they should take,” said Dr. Daniel Rodriguez, Chair of Counseling.

In the 1999-2000 academic year, 2,409 students from Palo Alto College took the TASP test. Out of those students, 24.4 percent passed all three sections of the test.
To help Palo Alto College raise its rate of passing students, tutoring services in math, reading and writing are available for all students.

A Math Learning Center that has seven tutors is open Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and on Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the EL Building, Room 115.

The English Learning Center is open to students Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and on Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the SS Building, Room 105.

The Reading Learning Center has lab hours available for students Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the AS Building, Room 105.

For more information, contact the Assessment Office, Palomino Center, Room 101B. Or, call them at 921-5251. Assessment hours are Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.