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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the high school graduation requirements. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 28.025 of the Education Code is amended |
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to read: |
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Sec. 28.025. HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND CERTIFICATE; ACADEMIC |
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ACHIEVEMENT RECORD. (a) The State Board of Education by rule |
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shall determine curriculum requirements for the minimum, |
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recommended, and advanced high school programs that are consistent |
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with the required curriculum under Section 28.002. |
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(b) The recommended and advanced plans shall have at least |
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three distinct options, including but not limited to: |
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(1) a science and mathematics option that shall |
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require four credits in mathematics and four credits in science |
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from the list of courses approved by the State Board of Education; |
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(2) a career and technology option that shall require |
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four credits in English language arts, three credits in |
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mathematics, three credits in science, two and one-half credits in |
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social studies and economics, and four credits from a list of career |
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and technology courses approved by the State Board of Education; |
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and |
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(3) a humanities option that includes but is not |
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limited to English language arts, social studies, languages other |
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than English, and fine arts from the list of courses approved by the |
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State Board of Education. |
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([b]c) A school district shall ensure that each student |
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enrolls in the courses necessary to complete the curriculum |
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requirements identified by the State Board of Education under |
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Subsection (a) for the recommended or advanced high school program |
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unless the student, the student's parent or other person standing |
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in parental relation to the student, and a school counselor or |
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school administrator agree that the student should be permitted to |
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take courses under the minimum high school program. |
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([b-1]d) The State Board of Education by rule shall require |
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that[:] |
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[(1)
except as provided by Subsection (b-2), the
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curriculum requirements for the recommended and advanced high
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school programs under Subsection (a) include a requirement that
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students successfully complete four courses in each subject of the
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foundation curriculum under Section 28.002(a)(1);
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[(2)] one or more courses offered in the required |
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curriculum for the recommended and advanced high school programs |
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include a research writing component. |
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[(b-2)
In adopting rules under Subsection (b-1), the State
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Board of Education shall allow a student to comply with the
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curriculum requirements for a mathematics course under Subsection
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(b-1)(1) taken after the successful completion of an Algebra II
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course or science course under Subsection (b-1)(1) taken after the
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successful completion of a physics course by successfully
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completing an advanced career and technical course designated by
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the State Board of Education as containing substantively similar
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and rigorous academic content.
A student may use the option
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provided by this subsection for not more than two courses.] |
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([c]e) A person may receive a diploma if the person is |
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eligible for a diploma under Section 28.0251. In other cases, a |
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student may graduate and receive a diploma only if: |
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(1) the student successfully completes the curriculum |
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requirements identified by the State Board of Education under |
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Subsection (a) and complies with Section 39.025; or |
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(2) the student successfully completes an |
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individualized education program developed under Section 29.005. |
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([d]f) A school district may issue a certificate of |
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coursework completion to a student who successfully completes the |
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curriculum requirements identified by the State Board of Education |
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under Subsection (a) but who fails to comply with Section |
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39.025. A school district may allow a student who receives a |
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certificate to participate in a graduation ceremony with students |
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receiving high school diplomas. |
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([e]g) Each school district shall report the academic |
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achievement record of students who have completed a minimum, |
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recommended, or advanced high school program on transcript forms |
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adopted by the State Board of Education. The transcript forms |
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adopted by the board must be designed to clearly differentiate |
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between each of the high school programs and identify whether a |
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student received a diploma or a certificate of coursework |
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completion. |
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([f]h) A school district shall issue a certificate of |
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attendance to a student who receives special education services |
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under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, and who has completed four years of |
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high school but has not completed the student's individualized |
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education program. A school district shall allow a student who |
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receives a certificate to participate in a graduation ceremony with |
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students receiving high school diplomas. A student may |
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participate in only one graduation ceremony under this |
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subsection. This subsection does not preclude a student from |
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receiving a diploma under Subsection [(c)(2)] (e). |
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([g]i) If a student, other than a student permitted to take |
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courses under the minimum high school program as provided by |
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Subsection ([b]c), is unable to complete the recommended or |
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advanced high school program solely because necessary courses were |
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unavailable to the student at the appropriate times in the |
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student's high school career as a result of course scheduling, lack |
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of enrollment capacity, or another cause not within the student's |
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control, the school district shall indicate that fact on the |
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student's transcript form described by Subsection ([e]g). |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2009-2010 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |