New Graduation Requirements
With the passage of House Bill (HB) 3, new graduation requirements will take effect on September 1, 2009. These new requirements supersede the graduation requirements in 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter 74.
Lamar CISD will implement the new graduation requirements with the incoming 2009-2010 freshmen class. Graduation requirements for students in grades 10, 11, and 12 will remain the same as they were, prior to House Bill 3.
Recommended High School Program (RHSP) and Distinguished Achievement Program (DAP)
For the recommended (RHSP) and advanced (DAP) high school programs, the total number of credits required for graduation and the requirement of 4 credits in the 4 foundation areas of mathematics, English language arts, science, and social studies/economics did not change. HB 3 changes include:
- providing more flexibility in the enrichment areas of the RHSP by increasing the number of elective credits to 6, requiring 1 credit of physical education, 2 credits of a language other than English (LOTE), and 1 credit of fine arts; and
- providing more flexibility in the enrichment areas in the DAP by increasing the number of elective credits to 5, requiring 1 credit of physical education, 3 credits of LOTE, and 1 credit of fine arts.
Minimum High School Program
Permission to graduate under the minimum high school program must be agreed to in writing and signed by the student, student’s parent (or other person standing in parental relation to the student), and a school counselor or school administrator.
Under HB 3, to graduate under the minimum high school program, students must:
- be at least 16 years of age;
- have completed 2 credits required for graduation in each subject of the foundation curriculum; or
- have failed to be promoted to the 10th grade one or more times as determined by the school district.
Students already in the minimum high school program do not have to meet the HB 3 requirements to enter the program, but must be given the choice of opting back into the recommended high school program.
Local districts may continue to adopt additional graduation requirements that go beyond the state requirements for graduation.
See chart below.
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Students who entered
Grade 9 before 2007-08;
24 credits |
Students who entered
Grade 9 in 2007-08 or 2008-09
26 credits |
Students who enter
Grade 9 in 2009-10
(House Bill 3) - 26 credits |
| English Language Arts |
English I |
English I |
English I |
| English II |
English II |
English II |
| English III |
English III |
English III |
| English IV |
English IV |
English IV |
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| Social Studies |
World Geography |
World Geography |
World Geography |
| World History |
World History |
World History |
| US History |
US History |
US History |
| US Government / Economics |
US Government / Economics |
US Government / Economics |
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| Mathematics |
Algebra I |
Algebra I |
Algebra I |
| Geometry |
Geometry |
Geometry |
| Algebra II |
Algebra II |
Algebra II |
| |
4th SBOE approved mathematics course |
4th SBOE approved mathematics course |
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(see TAC §74.63 for possible courses) |
(see TAC §74.63 for possible courses) |
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| Science |
Biology, AP Biology, or IB Biology |
Biology, AP Biology, or IB Biology |
Biology, AP Biology, or IB Biology |
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| Two credits from two of the following: |
Two credits from two of the following: |
Two credits from two of the following: |
| (A) IPC |
(A) IPC |
(A) IPC |
| (B) Chemistry, AP Chemistry, or IB Chemistry |
(B) Chemistry, AP Chemistry, or IB Chemistry |
(B) Chemistry, AP Chemistry, or IB Chemistry |
| (C) Physics, Principles of Technology I, AP Physics, or IB Physics |
(C) Physics, Principles of Technology I, AP Physics, or IB Physics |
(C) Physics, Principles of Technology I, AP Physics, or IB Physics |
| |
4th SBOE approved science course |
4th SBOE approved science course |
| |
(see TAC §74.63 for possible courses) |
(see TAC §74.63 for possible courses) |
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| Languages other than English |
Any two levels in the same language |
Any two levels in the same language |
Any two levels in the same language |
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| Fine Arts |
May be satisfied by any course in TAC Chapter 117, Subchapter C, relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Fine Arts |
May be satisfied by any course in Chapter 117, Subchapter C, relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Fine Arts |
May be satisfied by any course in Chapter 117, Subchapter C, relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Fine Arts |
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| Physical Education |
1½ required |
1½ required |
1 required |
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| Speech |
½ required |
½ required |
½ required per current SBOE rule, may count as an elective |
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| Technology Applications |
1 required |
1 required |
Not required |
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| Health |
½ required |
½ required |
Not required |
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| Electives |
3 ½ - May be selected from the list of courses specified in TAC §74.51(g) relating to High School Graduation Requirements |
3 ½ - May be selected from the list of courses specified in §74.51(g) relating to High School Graduation Requirements |
*6 - May be selected from the list of courses specified in §74.51(g) relating to High School Graduation Requirements |
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*Electives are in addition to the required credits in fine arts, physical education and languages other than English |
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