By Truan S.B. No. 296
74R1925 KKA-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to entitlement to high school diplomas.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Subchapter S, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
1-5 amended by adding Section 21.725 to read as follows:
1-6 Sec. 21.725. ENTITLEMENT TO HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. (a) A
1-7 student is entitled to receive a high school diploma from the last
1-8 high school attended by the student if the student:
1-9 (1) obtains an associate degree from a public junior
1-10 college as defined by Section 61.003; or
1-11 (2) is enrolled in good standing in the junior year of
1-12 any public or private college or university that grants
1-13 baccalaureate degrees and is accredited by a recognized accrediting
1-14 agency.
1-15 (b) A student entitled to a diploma under this section is
1-16 not required to meet any testing requirement in order to obtain a
1-17 diploma.
1-18 SECTION 2. Section 35.025(a), Education Code, is amended to
1-19 read as follows:
1-20 (a) Except as provided by Section 21.725, a <A> student may
1-21 not receive a high school diploma until the student has performed
1-22 satisfactorily on:
1-23 (1) the secondary exit-level assessment instruments
1-24 for reading, writing, and mathematics; and
2-1 (2) <. The State Board of Education shall adopt a
2-2 schedule for the addition of satisfactory performance on> secondary
2-3 exit-level assessment instruments in other subject areas as adopted
2-4 by the State Board of Education <a requirement for receipt of a
2-5 high school diploma>.
2-6 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
2-7 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-8 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-9 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-10 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-11 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-12 passage, and it is so enacted.