GUIDANCE FOR GRADUATION: House Bill 5 and High School Graduation Requirements

GUIDANCE FOR GRADUATION: House Bill 5 and High School Graduation Requirements

Earning a High School Diploma The High School Diploma is key in: Having access to post-secondary school education Enlisting in United States military services Obtaining employment and career advancement opportunities Accessing higher paying jobs

A New graduation plan with meaningful flexibility for Texas students and communities PURPOSE: Texas plans for graduation that includes meaningful flexibility to earn a high school diploma with appropriate and rigorous foundation courses aligned to endorsement areas for college and career preparation.

Graduation Plans Previous Graduation plans: Minimum High School Program (MHSP) Recommended High School Program (RHSP) Distinguished Achievement Plan (DAP) * *For top 10% college admission rule (7% University of Texas), a student MUST earn a distinguished level of achievement.

New Graduation Plans Beginning 2014-2015: The Commissioner of education has adopted a plan to replace the MHSP, RHSP & DAP The new plans include: The Foundation High School Program (22 credits)* The Foundation High School Program with Endorsements (26 credits) The Distinguished level of achievement (26 credits) Students who are in grade 9, 10, or 11 in the 2013-2014 school year must be given a choice to graduation the MHSP, RHSP, DAP, or Foundation High School Program. *A student may elect to graduate WITHOUT an endorsement only after the students 10 th grade year (or as determined by the district), the student & parent are advised of the benefits of graduating from H.S. with an endorsement, AND the parent files written permission allowing the student to graduate FOUNDATION only.

Professional School Counselors The campus Professional School, Career and College Counselors will support our students and advise students to: Select an endorsement in the following area(s): Public Services Business and Industry Multidisciplinary Studies Arts and Humanities STEM

Graduation Plan Foundation Plan + Endorsement+ Distinguished Level of Achievement (flowchart) Right click image to open hyperlink

Foundation High School Program Please note: Languages other than English (LOTE)

Foundation with Endorsements

Foundation with Distinguished Level of Achievement Distinguished level of Achievement A student may earn a distinguished level of achievement by successfully completing A total of four credits in mathematics, which must include Algebra II A total of four credits in science The remaining curriculum requirements The curriculum requirements for at least one endorsement * A student must earn distinguished level of achievement to be eligible for top 10% automatic admission.

In addition to Foundational level classes, the following levels of courses are offered: GENERAL COURSES PRE-AP / AP* DUAL CREDIT* IB* TAG* (Right click image to open hyperlink) *Requires completion of the Challenge Agreement student and parent/guardian signature is required

Foundational/General Credit Courses These courses are taught at grade level and follow the Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills (TEKS) elements

Pre-AP/IB and AP/IB Courses AP/IB courses give students a head start on college Taking AP/IB courses can help students to gain college admission; test scores can earn college credit and placement into advanced courses. Grades are weighted and can help improve class rank

Dual Credit Courses JISD has academic and technical dual credit partnerships agreements with several postsecondary institutions Students earn high school and college credit at the same time A qualifying score on an entrance exam (TSI) must be met before enrolling in a dual credit course

What is AP? AP stands for Advanced Placement These are Stand Alone Classes and Tests College Class on the High School Campus Earn College Credit if Score on AP test is high enough Content and Expectations are Directed by the College Board More than 90% of 4 year Universities Grant Credit for Qualifying Exams Students can By-Pass Entry Level Courses

What is IB? Coursework with a Global Perspective Designed to meet Global Standards A Complete Degree Program Thinking and Writing are Major Components Diploma is a Major Asset in University Admission Diploma Guarantees 24 Semester Credits at any Texas State University There are IB Programs in Over 138 Countries

Performance Acknowledgments Earned for Outstanding Performance in: Dual Credit At least 12 earned hours pf college academic courses (3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale) Bilingualism/Biliteracy Completing all ELA requirements while maintaining a GPA equivalent to an 80 and Satisfying one of four additional measures (ie 80 or higher in three or more LOTE courses) AP or IB exams or on the PSAT, ACT-Plan, SAT/ACT A score of 3 or higher on a College Board AP exam or 4 or higher on an IB exam or outstanding performance on PSAT, ACT-Plan, SAT/ACT And/or Earning a nationally or internationally recognized business or industry license or certificate Performance sufficient to obtain national or international business/industry certification or government required credential to practice a profession *For more detailed information see Performance acknowledgment section of: More information

ENDORSEMENTS Judson ISD CTE Programs aligned to endorsements STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Business and Industry Public Services Arts and Humanities Multidisciplinary Studies JISD CAREER CLUSTERS Advanced Science, including environmental science Advanced Math Technology, including computer science Engineering (WHS) STEM Academy (District-Wide) Business Administration & Marketing Management (WHS) Construction & Manufacturing (WHS) Culinary Arts (WHS) Information Technology (WHS) Visual Design (WHS) Fashion Design (WHS) Agricultural Science (JHS) Marketing & Business Services (JHS) Media Technology & Communications (JHS) Transportation Services (JHS) Education & Training (WHS) Health Science (JHS) Human Services (JHS) Law Enforcement (WHS & JHS) Political Science World Languages Cultural Studies English Literature History Fine Arts Allows a student to select courses from the curriculum of each endorsement area and earn credits in a variety of advanced courses from multiple content areas sufficient to complete the distinguished level of achievement.

Endorsements A student shall specify in writing an endorsement the student intends to earn upon entering Grade 9. Opting-out into a Foundation Plan, ONLY after the sophomore year, requires: The student and the student s parent or person standing in parental relation to the student are advised by a school counselor of the specific benefits of graduating from high school with one or more endorsements; and The student s parent or person standing in parental relation to the student files with a school counselor written permission, on a form adopted by the agency, allowing the student to graduate under the foundation high school program without the endorsement.

An example of an ENDORSEMENT Program of study REQUIRE COHERENT SEQUENCING: All JISD CTE programs of study (pathways) have an established coherent sequence of courses which satisfy the requirements for endorsements identified in HB5, a coherent sequence of four credits in CTE that includes at least two courses in the same career cluster and at least one advanced CTE course.......

Side by Side Comparison OLD vs NEW Current requirements vs HB 5

HB5 fine print A student may not be enrolled in a course that has a required prerequisite unless: the student has successfully completed the prerequisite course(s): the student has demonstrated equivalent knowledge as determined by the school district; or the student has already enrolled in the course in an out-of-state, an out-of-country, or a Texas nonpublic school and transferred to a Texas public school prior to successfully completing the course.

Additional HB 5 fine print Effective 2013-2014, if a student is determined UNLIKELY to pass an EOC at the end of the 11 th grade year, the student must be enrolled in a College Preparatory course. All high school students entering 9 th grade must have a universal personal graduation plan (PGP).

Personal Graduation Plan (PGP) In 2014-2015, upon entering 9 th grade, students must indicate in writing an endorsement selection. This may be accomplished via a Personal Graduation Plan (PGP) which must be signed by both the parent & student

Foundations for a current 9 th, 10 th or 11 th Students who are in the 9 th, 10 th or 11 th grade year this year (2013-2014) must be given an option to graduate MHSP, RHSP, DAP or Foundation High School Program

State Assessment Requirements under HB 5 Five End of Course (EOC) test (subject based) Algebra 1 English I and II Biology US History

Scheduling Recommendation All incoming 9 th grade students are encourage to select: 1. English I 2. Biology (Chemistry Pre-AP if Biology credit has been awarded) 3. World Geography 4. Algebra I (Geometry Pre-AP if Algebra I credit has been awarded) 5. Language other than English (Spanish, German or French) 6. Endorsement (introduction course pathway dependent upon endorsement selection) 7. Elective* (athletic and/or general/recomended elective) 8. Alternate course (in cases where first elective request is not available) *Elective course is dependent upon successful completion and promotion. Student may be administratively placed in a remedial and/or support class based on state assessment results.

Attendance Reminder Students must attend class 90% of the time in order to receive credit for the course. Absences cannot exceed 9 (per class) in a semester. Medical appointments are excused (medical documentation required). If a student earns a 70 or better in a class, but is denied credit due to attendance he or she must be reviewed by the attendance committee and an individual plan must be created.

For additional questions please contact your campus Professional School Counselor Thank You!