By: Veasey H.B. No. 1503

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the high school graduation requirements.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 28.025 of the Education Code is amended to read:

Sec. 28.025. HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND CERTIFICATE; ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT RECORD. (a) The State Board of Education by rule shall determine curriculum requirements for the minimum, recommended, and advanced high school programs that are consistent with the required curriculum under Section 28.002.

(b) The recommended and advanced plans shall have at least three distinct options, including but not limited to:

(1) a science and mathematics option that shall require four credits in mathematics and four credits in science from the list of courses approved by the State Board of Education;

(2) a career and technology option that shall require four credits in English language arts, three credits in mathematics, three credits in science, two and one-half credits in social studies and economics, and four credits from a list of career and technology courses approved by the State Board of Education; and

(3) a humanities option that includes but is not limited to English language arts, social studies, languages other than English, and fine arts from the list of courses approved by the State Board of Education.

([b]c) A school district shall ensure that each student enrolls in the courses necessary to complete the curriculum requirements identified by the State Board of Education under Subsection (a) for the recommended or advanced high school program unless the student, the student's parent or other person standing in parental relation to the student, and a school counselor or school administrator agree that the student should be permitted to take courses under the minimum high school program.

([b-1]d) The State Board of Education by rule shall require that[:]

[(1) except as provided by Subsection (b-2), the curriculum requirements for the recommended and advanced high school programs under Subsection (a) include a requirement that students successfully complete four courses in each subject of the foundation curriculum under Section 28.002(a)(1);

[(2)] one or more courses offered in the required curriculum for the recommended and advanced high school programs include a research writing component.

[(b-2) In adopting rules under Subsection (b-1), the State Board of Education shall allow a student to comply with the curriculum requirements for a mathematics course under Subsection (b-1)(1) taken after the successful completion of an Algebra II course or science course under Subsection (b-1)(1) taken after the successful completion of a physics course by successfully completing an advanced career and technical course designated by the State Board of Education as containing substantively similar and rigorous academic content. A student may use the option provided by this subsection for not more than two courses.]

([c]e) A person may receive a diploma if the person is eligible for a diploma under Section 28.0251. In other cases, a student may graduate and receive a diploma only if:

(1) the student successfully completes the curriculum requirements identified by the State Board of Education under Subsection (a) and complies with Section 39.025; or

(2) the student successfully completes an individualized education program developed under Section 29.005.

([d]f) A school district may issue a certificate of coursework completion to a student who successfully completes the curriculum requirements identified by the State Board of Education under Subsection (a) but who fails to comply with Section 39.025. A school district may allow a student who receives a certificate to participate in a graduation ceremony with students receiving high school diplomas.

([e]g) Each school district shall report the academic achievement record of students who have completed a minimum, recommended, or advanced high school program on transcript forms adopted by the State Board of Education. The transcript forms adopted by the board must be designed to clearly differentiate between each of the high school programs and identify whether a student received a diploma or a certificate of coursework completion.

([f]h) A school district shall issue a certificate of attendance to a student who receives special education services under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, and who has completed four years of high school but has not completed the student's individualized education program. A school district shall allow a student who receives a certificate to participate in a graduation ceremony with students receiving high school diplomas. A student may participate in only one graduation ceremony under this subsection. This subsection does not preclude a student from receiving a diploma under Subsection [(c)(2)] (e).

([g]i) If a student, other than a student permitted to take courses under the minimum high school program as provided by Subsection ([b]c), is unable to complete the recommended or advanced high school program solely because necessary courses were unavailable to the student at the appropriate times in the student's high school career as a result of course scheduling, lack of enrollment capacity, or another cause not within the student's control, the school district shall indicate that fact on the student's transcript form described by Subsection ([e]g).

SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2009-2010 school year.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2009.