Amend CSHB 5 (house committee report) as follows:

(1)  On page 9, strike lines 2 through 10 and substitute the following:

(b-7)  The State Board of Education, in coordination with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, shall adopt rules to ensure that a student may comply with the curriculum requirements under the foundation [minimum, recommended, or advanced] high school program or for an endorsement under Subsection (c-1) [for each subject of the foundation curriculum under Section 28.002(a)(1) and for languages other than English under Section 28.002(a)(2)(A)] by successfully completing appropriate courses in the core curriculum of an institution of higher education under Section 61.822. Notwithstanding Subsection (b-14) or (c) of this section, Section 39.025, or any other provision of this code and notwithstanding any school district policy, a student who has completed the core curriculum of an institution of higher education under Section 61.822, as certified by the institution in accordance with commissioner rule, is considered to have earned a distinguished level of achievement under the foundation high school program and is entitled to receive a high school diploma from the appropriate high school as that high school is determined in accordance with commissioner rule. A student who is considered to have earned a distinguished level of achievement under the foundation high school program under this subsection may apply for admission to an institution of higher education for the first semester or other academic term after the semester or other academic term in which the student completes the core curriculum.

(2)  On page 15, line 4, strike "completed" and substitute "earned a distinguished level of achievement under [completed]".

(3)  On page 15, line 9, immediately after the period, insert the following: