Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)
The ASVAB Career Exploration Program (ASVAB CEP) is a free program offered by the Department of Defense that consists of:
- The ASVAB multiple aptitude test
- Interest Self-Assessment
- Career Exploration Tools
Laws and Rules
Senate Bill (SB) 1843 (85th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2017) authorizes that each school year, each school district and open-enrollment charter school is required to provide students in grades 10 through 12 an opportunity to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test and consult with a military recruiter. School districts and open-enrollment charter schools must:
- Schedule the test during normal school hours; and
- Schedule the test 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/open enrollment charter school may elect not to provide the ASVAB test, if the 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 district or 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 school district or open-enrollment charter school has entered into a prior contract 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, Senate Bill 1843 requires that no later than August 1st, the Texas Education Agency will publish a list of school districts and open-enrollment charter schools that elect not to provide the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test during the previous school year.
Reporting
2023-2024 School Year
Required ASVAB reporting was completed by the Fall 2023 PEIMS Snapshot. From this report you can find information that includes:
- districts that did not administer the ASVAB or an alternative test, and
- districts that did not administer ASVAB, but did administer an alternative test.
2022-2023 School Year
Required ASVAB reporting was completed by the Fall 2022 PEIMS Snapshot. From this report you can find information that includes:
- districts that did not administer the ASVAB or an alternative test, and
- districts that did not administer ASVAB, but did administer an alternative test.
2021-2022 School Year
Required ASVAB reporting was completed by the Fall 2021 PEIMS Snapshot. From this report you can find information that includes:
- districts that did not administer the ASVAB or an alternative test, and
- districts that did not administer ASVAB, but did administer an alternative test.
2020-2021 School Year
Required ASVAB reporting was completed by the Fall 2020 PEIMS Snapshot. From this report you can find information that includes:
- districts that did not administer the ASVAB or an alternative test, and
- districts that did not administer ASVAB, but did administer an alternative test.
No LEA waiver was available in the 2020-2021 school year.”
2019-2020 School Year
Required ASVAB reporting was completed by the Fall 2019 PIEMS Snapshot. From this report you can find information that includes:
- districts that did not administer the ASVAB or an alternative test, and
- districts that did not administer ASVAB, but did administer an alternative test.
In May of 2020 TEA provided an LEA waiver for districts and open-enrollment charter schools that could not meet the 2019-2020 requirements of Senate Bill 1843 due to COVID-19 and the closing of Texas school facilities. For the 2019-2020 school year, ASVAB waivers were processed. From this report you can find information on LEAs approved for the 2019-2020 school year ASVAB waiver.
2018-2019 School Year
Required ASVAB reporting was completed by the Fall 2018 PIEMS Snapshot. From this report you can find information that includes:
- districts that did not administer the ASVAB or an alternative test, and
- districts that did not administer ASVAB, but did administer an alternative test.
2017-2018 School Year
The reporting requirements were announced through a TAA letter on November 30, 2017. Listed below are three lists that contain the following:
- districts that did not complete the reporting requirement
- districts that completed the reporting requirement but did not administer the ASVAB
- districts that completed the reporting requirement, did not administer ASVAB, but did administer an alternative test.
Resources
The Department of Defense ASVAB Program website has resources for educators, parents and students. Links to specific website pages are provided below:
- The ASVAB Program Website
- ASVAB Program Information for Schools
- Fact sheets
- Counselor Guides
- Testing information and processes
- Opt in/Opt out letters for schools
- Interpreting Results
- Statistics
- Student materials
- Department of Defense ASVAB Frequently Asked Questions
- ASVAB Career Exploration Program Introduction Video
- March2Success online study program
College, Career, & Military Prep
ASVAB@tea.texas.gov