86R2614 CAE-D
 
  By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 52
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the high school graduation of a student who transfers to
  a public school in this state after the student's junior year of
  high school.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 28.025, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (c-9) to read as follows:
         (c-9)  Notwithstanding Subsection (c), a person may receive
  a diploma if the person is eligible for a diploma under Section
  28.02592.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 28.02592 to read as follows:
         Sec. 28.02592.  HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AWARDED TO TRANSFER
  STUDENT ON BASIS OF INDIVIDUAL GRADUATION COMMITTEE REVIEW. (a)  
  This section applies only to a student who:
               (1)  transfers into the public school system of this
  state after completion of the student's 11th grade year in high
  school in a different state; and
               (2)  will:
                     (A)  be unable, based on the credit awarded to the
  student by the public school system for coursework completed in a
  different state, to comply with the curriculum requirements of this
  state for high school graduation by the end of the student's 12th
  grade year; or
                     (B)  have difficulty complying with the
  end-of-course assessment instrument requirements for high school
  graduation imposed under Section 39.025. 
         (b)  For each student to whom this section applies, the
  school district that the student attends shall establish an
  individual graduation committee at the beginning of the student's
  12th grade year to determine whether the student may qualify to
  graduate as provided by this section.  A student may not qualify to
  graduate under this section before the student's 12th grade year.  
  The committee shall be composed of:
               (1)  the principal or principal's designee;
               (2)  the department chair or lead teacher for each
  subject for which an end-of-course assessment instrument is
  administered under Section 39.023(c); and
               (3)  the student's parent or person standing in
  parental relation to the student or the student, if the student is
  at least 18 years of age.
         (c)  The superintendent of each school district shall
  establish procedures for the convening of an individual graduation
  committee under this section.
         (d)  In determining whether a student for whom an individual
  graduation committee is established is qualified to graduate, the
  committee shall consider:
               (1)  the recommendation of the student's teacher in
  each course for which the student was not administered an
  end-of-course assessment instrument;
               (2)  the student's performance on each: 
                     (A)  alternative nationally recognized
  norm-referenced assessment instrument that the student requests to
  be considered; or
                     (B)  Texas Success Initiative (TSI) assessment
  instrument that the student requests to be considered;
               (3)  the student's overall preparedness for
  postsecondary success; and 
               (4)  any other academic information designated for
  consideration by the board of trustees of the school district.
         (e)  After considering the criteria under Subsection (d),
  the individual graduation committee may determine that the student
  is qualified to graduate.  The commissioner by rule shall establish
  a timeline for making a determination under this subsection.  The
  decision of a committee is final and may not be appealed.
         (f)  The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to
  implement this section.
         SECTION 3.  Section 39.025, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsections (h) and (i) to read as follows:
         (h)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this section,
  the commissioner shall allow a student to satisfy the requirements
  of Subsection (a) and qualify for a high school diploma through
  satisfactory performance on one or more alternative nationally
  recognized norm-referenced assessment instruments or Texas Success
  Initiative (TSI) assessment instruments if the student transfers
  into the public school system of this state after completion of the
  student's 11th grade year in high school in a different state and
  the student receives a recommendation by the student's individual
  graduation committee under Section 28.02592 that the student
  qualifies for a high school diploma.
         (i)  For purposes of Subsection (h), the commissioner, in
  order to ensure that a student described by that subsection may
  satisfy the requirements of Subsection (a) solely through
  performance on one or more alternative nationally recognized
  norm-referenced assessment instruments or Texas Success Initiative
  (TSI) assessment instruments, shall establish required performance
  levels for the assessment instruments that correspond to the
  performance levels otherwise required under Subsection (a) on the
  secondary exit-level assessment instruments for English language
  arts, mathematics, social studies, and science.
         SECTION 4.  Section 28.02592, Education Code, as added by
  this Act, and Section 39.025, Education Code, as amended by this
  Act, apply beginning with students enrolled in public high schools
  in this state as a senior during the 2019-2020 school year.
         SECTION 5.  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, 2019.