77R11177 ESH-F
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the requirements for high school graduation.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 28.025, Education Code, is amended to read
1-5 as follows:
1-6 Sec. 28.025. HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND CERTIFICATE; ACADEMIC
1-7 ACHIEVEMENT RECORD. (a) The State Board of Education by rule shall
1-8 determine curriculum requirements for the minimum, recommended, and
1-9 advanced high school programs that are consistent with the required
1-10 curriculum under Section 28.002. A student may graduate and
1-11 receive a diploma only if:
1-12 (1) the student successfully completes the curriculum
1-13 requirements identified by the board and:
1-14 (A) complies with Section 39.025(a); or
1-15 (B) meets the alternative graduation criteria
1-16 prescribed under Subsection (b); or
1-17 (2) the student successfully completes an
1-18 individualized education program developed under Section 29.005.
1-19 (b) The commissioner by rule shall prescribe alternative
1-20 graduation criteria that a student may meet to graduate and receive
1-21 a diploma without complying with Section 39.025(a). The
1-22 alternative graduation criteria must be compensatory criteria. The
1-23 alternative graduation criteria must include a student's:
1-24 (1) grade point average beginning in grade 9;
1-25 (2) current class ranking;
1-26 (3) performance on the individual assessment
1-27 instruments specified in Section 39.025(a);
2-1 (4) combined scores, using only the student's highest
2-2 scores, on the assessment instruments specified in Section
2-3 39.025(a); and
2-4 (5) overall academic performance beginning in grade 9,
2-5 as evaluated by two or more of the student's teachers.
2-6 (c) A committee composed of the student's high school
2-7 principal or the principal's designee and two certified teachers in
2-8 the student's school district who teach at the high school level
2-9 shall determine whether a student who has not complied with Section
2-10 39.025(a) has met the alternative graduation criteria prescribed
2-11 under Subsection (b). The commissioner shall adopt rules relating
2-12 to the selection and operation of a committee under this
2-13 subsection, including the method by which the committee must notify
2-14 the student and the student's high school registrar, or the person
2-15 performing the duties of a registrar, of the committee's decision.
2-16 (d) A committee established under Subsection (c) shall
2-17 determine whether a student who has not complied with Section
2-18 39.025(a) has met the alternative graduation criteria prescribed
2-19 under Subsection (b):
2-20 (1) following the first administration to the student
2-21 of the assessment instruments specified in Section 39.025(a);
2-22 (2) on written request of the student's parent or
2-23 guardian, not more than one time in each school year following the
2-24 school year in which the assessment instruments specified in
2-25 Section 39.025(a) are first administered to the student; and
2-26 (3) when the principal of the student's high school,
2-27 or the principal's designee, determines that the student is within
3-1 one month of completing each requirement for a high school diploma
3-2 other than compliance with Section 39.025(a).
3-3 (e) A school district may issue a certificate of coursework
3-4 completion to a student who successfully completes the curriculum
3-5 requirements identified by the State Board of Education under
3-6 Subsection (a) but who fails to comply with Section 39.025(a) or
3-7 the alternative graduation criteria under Subsection (b) [perform
3-8 satisfactorily on the assessment instruments specified by
3-9 Subsection (a)]. A school district may allow a student who
3-10 receives a certificate to participate in a graduation ceremony with
3-11 students receiving high school diplomas.
3-12 (f) [(c)] Each school district shall report the academic
3-13 achievement record of students who have completed a minimum,
3-14 recommended, or advanced high school program on transcript forms
3-15 adopted by the State Board of Education. The transcript forms
3-16 adopted by the board must be designed to clearly differentiate
3-17 between each of the high school programs and identify whether a
3-18 student received a diploma or a certificate of coursework
3-19 completion.
3-20 SECTION 2. (a) Section 28.025, Education Code, as amended by
3-21 this Act, applies beginning with the 2002-2003 school year.
3-22 (b) Not later than June 1, 2002, the commissioner of
3-23 education shall adopt rules as required by Sections 28.025(b) and
3-24 (c), Education Code, as amended by this Act.
3-25 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.