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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to health and physical education credits required for high |
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school graduation. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 28.025(b-1) and (b-11), Education Code, |
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are amended to read as follows: |
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(b-1) 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: |
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(A) four credits in each subject of the |
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foundation curriculum under Section 28.002(a)(1), including at |
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least one-half credit in government and at least one-half credit in |
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economics to meet the social studies requirement; |
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(B) for the recommended high school program, two |
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credits in the same language in a language other than English under |
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Section 28.002(a)(2)(A) and, for the advanced high school program, |
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three credits in the same language in a language other than English |
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under Section 28.002(a)(2)(A); and |
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(C) for the recommended high school program, five |
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[six] elective credits and, for the advanced high school program, |
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four [five] elective credits; |
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(2) one or more credits 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; and |
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(3) the curriculum requirements for the minimum, |
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recommended, and advanced high school programs under Subsection (a) |
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include a requirement that students successfully complete: |
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(A) one credit in fine arts under Section |
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28.002(a)(2)(D); [and] |
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(B) except as provided by Subsection (b-11), 1.5 |
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credits [one credit] in physical education under Section |
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28.002(a)(2)(C); and |
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(C) one-half credit in health under Section |
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28.002(a)(2)(B). |
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(b-11) In adopting rules under Subsection (b-1), the State |
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Board of Education shall allow a student who is unable to |
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participate in physical activity due to disability or illness to |
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substitute 1.5 credits [one credit] in English language arts, |
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mathematics, science, [or] social studies, or an [one] academic |
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elective, or a combination of credits in those courses equaling 1.5 |
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credits, [credit] for the physical education credits [credit] |
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required under Subsection (b-1)(3)(B). A credit allowed to be |
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substituted under this subsection may not also be used by the |
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student to satisfy a graduation requirement other than completion |
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of the physical education credits [credit]. The rules must provide |
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that the determination regarding a student's ability to participate |
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in physical activity will be made by: |
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(1) if the student receives special education services |
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under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, the student's admission, review, |
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and dismissal committee; |
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(2) if the student does not receive special education |
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services under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, but is covered by Section |
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504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Section 794), the |
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committee established for the student under that Act; or |
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(3) if each of the committees described by |
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Subdivisions (1) and (2) is inapplicable, a committee established |
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by the school district of persons with appropriate knowledge |
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regarding the student. |
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SECTION 2. 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, 2013. |