Graduation Requirements
House Bill 3
by Jennifer Robertson
HB 3 Graduation Requirements FAQ's
House Bill 3 Graduation Requirements
Frequently Asked Questions
(Information taken from:http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/curriculum/HB3QA071409.pdf)
1. Does the added flexibility apply to students who will be seniors in 2009-2010?
The changes to the graduation requirements that affect the enrichment areas apply to all students in the recommended high school program (RHSP) regardless of when they entered Grade 9. The requirements for the foundation areas still depend on when a student entered Grade 9.
Students in the RHSP are no longer required to complete a ½ credit in health education or one credit in technology applications and are now required to complete one credit in physical education rather than one and ½ credits.
Students must still complete ½ credit in communication applications (speech) and the requirements for English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies (including economics) that were in place when they entered Grade 9.
2. Do students who will be seniors in 2009-2010 now have to earn four credits in mathematics and four credits in science?
No. Any student who entered Grade 9 before the 2007-08 school year only needs to earn 3 credits in mathematics and 3 credits in science to satisfy the state graduation requirements.
3. Do students who will be seniors in 2009-2010 now have to earn 26 credits in order to graduate?
No. Students who entered Grade 9 before the 2007-08 school year still only need 24 credits to satisfy the state graduation requirements.
4. How does House Bill 3 change the DAP?
House Bill 3 does not change any of the course requirements for students on the DAP. The law limits the State Board of Education’s (SBOE) authority to require specific courses in the enrichment curriculum beyond what is required in law for the RHSP only. Consequently, requirements in SBOE rule that go beyond the requirements in the law are still in effect for the DAP.
Minimum High School Program
5. How does House Bill 3 change the minimum high school program?
House Bill 3 requires students on the minimum high school program to complete 1 fine arts credit. House Bill 3 does not change any other course requirements for students on the minimum high school program. The law limits the SBOE’s authority to require specific courses in the enrichment curriculum beyond what is required in law for the RHSP only. Consequently, requirements in SBOE rule that go beyond the requirements in the law are still in effect for the minimum high school program.In order to opt into the minimum program a student must:
(1) be at least 16 years of age;
(2) have completed two credits required for graduation in each subject of the foundation curriculum; or
(3) have failed to be promoted to the tenth grade one or more times as determined by the school district in order to be permitted to take courses under the minimum high school program.
6. If the law does not require speech, why are students still required to take this course?
The law limits the SBOE’s authority to require specific courses in the enrichment curriculum beyond what is required in law for the RHSP. Speech is part of English language arts and therefore, part of the foundation curriculum rather than the enrichment curriculum. Consequently, the SBOE still has authority to require speech and that part of the rule is still in effect. Students under all three graduation programs are still required to earn ½ credit in speech.
7. Are students still required to take Communication Applications as the speech credit?
Yes.
8. If students are no longer required to take health education as part of the graduation requirements for the RHSP, but districts are required to provide instruction in the p.a.p.a. program, are districts required to provide students with instruction in the p.a.p.a. program during another required course?
No. Section 28.002(p) of the Education Code requires the p.a.p.a. program to be part of “the district’s high school health curriculum.” That program must be part of a high school health class, but students in the recommended high school program are no longer required to take a health class for graduation.
Click here to view a powerpoint about House Bill 3.
