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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the requirements for a high school diploma. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 28.025(c) and (d), Education Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(c) A person may receive a diploma if the person is eligible |
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for a diploma under Section 28.0251. In other cases, a student may |
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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: |
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(A) complies with Section 39.025; or |
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(B) meets the alternative graduation criteria |
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prescribed under Section 28.0253; 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) A school district may issue a certificate of coursework |
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completion to a student who successfully completes the curriculum |
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requirements identified by the State Board of Education under |
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Subsection (a) but who fails to comply with Section 39.025 or the |
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alternative graduation criteria under Section 28.0253. A school |
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district may allow a student who receives a certificate to |
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participate in a graduation ceremony with students receiving high |
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school diplomas. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 28, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 28.0253 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 28.0253. ALTERNATIVE GRADUATION CRITERIA. (a) The |
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commissioner by rule shall prescribe alternative graduation |
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criteria that a student may meet to graduate and receive a diploma |
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without complying with Section 39.025. The alternative graduation |
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criteria must compensate for unsatifactory performance on the |
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applicable individual assessment instruments specified in Section |
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39.025. To the extent applicable, the alternative graduation |
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criteria must include a student's: |
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(1) grade point average beginning in grade 9; |
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(2) current class ranking; |
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(3) performance on the individual assessment |
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instruments specified in Section 39.025, including a consideration |
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of whether extenuating circumstances may have adversely affected |
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the student's performance; and |
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(4) overall academic performance beginning in grade 9, |
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as evaluated by two or more of the student's teachers. |
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(b) A committee composed of the student's high school |
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principal or the principal's designee and two certified teachers in |
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the student's school district who teach at the high school level |
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shall determine whether a student who has not complied with Section |
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39.025 has met the alternative graduation criteria prescribed under |
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Subsection (a). The commissioner shall adopt rules relating to the |
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selection and operation of a committee under this subsection. |
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(c) A committee established under Subsection (b) shall |
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determine whether a student who has not complied with Section |
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39.025 has met the alternative graduation criteria prescribed under |
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Subsection (a): |
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(1) following the first administration to the student |
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of the applicable assessment instruments specified in Section |
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39.025; |
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(2) on written request of the student's parent or |
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guardian, not more than one time in each school year following the |
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school year in which the applicable assessment instruments |
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specified in Section 39.025 are first administered to the student; |
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and |
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(3) when the principal of the student's high school, or |
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the principal's designee, determines that the student is within one |
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month of completing each requirement for a high school diploma |
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other than compliance with Section 39.025. |
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SECTION 3. (a) Section 28.025, Education Code, as amended |
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by this Act, and Section 28.0253, Education Code, as added by this |
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Act, apply beginning with the 2008-2009 school year. |
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(b) Not later than June 1, 2008, the commissioner of |
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education shall adopt rules as required by Sections 28.0253(a) and |
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(b), Education Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |