graduation requirements · requirements for a texas high school diploma. if your child is currently...
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Required Assessments
STAAR – State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness
EOC – End of Course exam
Students must pass all 5 EOC exams to graduate.
Students must continue retaking the EOC exams until they pass them.
Exams dates are set by the state TEA, and are not flexible. (April/May; July: December)
If a student has earned all required credits, but not passed the exams, they will not receive a diploma.
STAAR Tests
What subjects? How many?
English I - freshman
Algebra I - freshman
Biology - freshman
English II - sophomore
United States History - junior
* Note that the English tests are one day
Reading and Writing combined tests.
STAAR Tests
Graduation Plans for the
classes of 2015
2016
2017
Recommended High School Program
Distinguished Achievement Program
Minimum High School Program
Recommended High School
Program
4 English
4 Math 4 Science
3 Social Studies
.5 Govt
.5 Economics
.5 Speech 1.0 PE
1.0 Fine Art
2.0 Foreign Language 5.5 Electives
MUST PASS ALL 5 EOC EXAMS
Distinguished High School
Program
4 English
4 Math 4 Science 3 Social Studies .5 Govt .5 Economics .5 Speech
1.0 PE 1.0 Fine Art 2.0 Foreign Language 5.5 Electives 4 of these must be Advanced Measures –
Dual Credit classes with a B or better in each class
MUST PASS ALL 5 EOC EXAMS
Benefits of Recommended/
Distinguished program: Eligible to apply for and attend:
a four year university
Junior or community college
Vocational or trade school
Also eligible for the TEXAS Grant & many
other financial aid opportunities
Eligible to enlist in any branch of the
military or ROTC program within a college
or university.
Prepared to enter the workforce; having had a good foundational education with not only basic skills, but a good variety of classes to make you a well rounded and responsible employee.
Minimum High School
Program
4 English
3 Math
2 Science
3 Social Studies
.5 Govt
.5 Economics
.5 Speech
1.0 PE
1.0 Fine Art
8.5 Electives
Advantages/ Disadvantages
of Minimum program: Eligible to apply for and attend:
Junior or community college
Vocational or trade school
NOT eligible for the TEXAS Grant, but still
eligible for other financial aid opportunities
MUST take the TSI exam for college placement
Eligible to enlist in any branch of the
military or ROTC program within a college
or university.
Prepared to enter the workforce; having had a good foundational education with
basic skills, and a variety of classes to make you a well rounded and responsible
employee.
House Bill 5
What is a House Bill 5 diploma?
Passed in 2013, House Bill 5 changed the
requirements for a Texas high school diploma.
If your child is CURRENTLY a freshman, they will be
on this diploma plan.
If your child is currently in high school as a
sophomore, junior, or senior they may choose to
switch to this diploma.
It also changed the amount of End of Course
(STAAR) tests students have to take for a diploma.
What tests does my child need
for a diploma? Biology
United States History
Algebra I
English I
English II
* Note that the English tests are one day Reading and
Writing combined tests.
What else do I need to know
about testing?
Biology, Algebra I and US History are 4 hour exams.
English I and II are 5 hour tests with both reading
and writing.
The test is attached to when your child takes the
course, not a particular grade level. For instance, if
your child take Biology as a freshman they will take
the EOC that year. However, if they take it as a
sophomore then they will take it that year.
Graduation plans
Foundation requirements
Endorsements Multidisciplinary
Distinguished Level
Performance Acknowledgements
Terms to know for a HB5
Diploma
Foundation = the 22 credits needed for this type of
basic diploma
Your child cannot move to only a Foundation diploma
until the end of their sophomore year and there must
be a meeting between you and your child’s counselor
to get your consent.
This is the minimal amount of courses for a diploma.
Your child is still required to pass the EOC tests.
Foundation = 22 credits
4 credits ELA/R
3 credits of Math
3 credits of Science
3 credits of Social
Studies
1 credit of PE
1 credit of Fine Arts
(Art, Band, Theatre)
2 credits of LOTE
(Foreign Language)
Spanish
Core subject areas credits and LOTE not used for Basic requirements
Other Fine Arts/Health/PE credits
CTE, Technology Applications, and Career Development
Some may overlap for Endorsement requirements
Electives – 5 credits Basics – 17 credits
And what about “speech”?
We will no longer require students to earn
credit for a “Speech” class, as the speech
TEKS will be covered in the English/
Language Arts classes.
We may offer Speech as a course that
students can take for an elective credit.
Terms to know for a HB5
Diploma
Endorsement = a set of classes that go together to
help create an area of study for a student
Endorsements follow a pattern set by the district.
This customizes the diploma to support your child’s
college and career pathway.
Students study in areas where they are interested or
have a talent/aptitude.
Business
&
Industry
CTE Route:
Endorsements for Marlin ISD
Multidisciplinary is the endorsement we are offering for all students beginning high school in 2014 – 15.
We are working on offering more over the next few years.
A student may change to a different endorsement during high school, but must have parent signature to acknowledge the change in pathways.
Terms to know for a diploma
Distinguished Level
This is above a diploma with just an
Endorsement.
The only difference is the student completes
Algebra II.
If your child takes Algebra II, they may take
an exam for this course to measure college
readiness.
Planning Template: 4 Year Plan
CTE Route:
Sample High School 4 year Plan
*Graduating on the Distinguished Achievement Plan requires Algebra II as an Advanced Math Credit. Distinguished Graduation is a requirement to be
considered for Texas Top 10% Automatic Admissions to Texas Public Universities.
Student Name __________________________________________________________________________________ ID _______________________________________
Expected Graduation Date ______________________________________________ Graduation Plan to include Distinguished Achievement? Yes No
Endorsement Selected: STEM Business and Industry Arts and Humanities Public Service Multi-Disciplinary Studies
Student Career Goal:_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1. English I (Pre AP or Regular)
2. Algebra I or Geometry (Pre-AP or Regular)__________________
3. Biology (Pre-AP or Regular)
4. Spanish 1
5. Speech/Health (Social Studies)
6. PE __________________________________________________
7. Elective ______________________________________________
8. Elective_______________________________________________
Grade 9 Grade 10
Grade 11 Grade 12
Parent Approval:
I have examined this plan and give my approval. I understand changes may be made each year as the plan is reviewed in conference with my student’s guidance counselor.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Parent’s Signature Date
1. English II (Pre AP or Regular)
2. Geometry (Pre-AP or Regular) or Advanced Math*
____________________________________________________
3. IPC or Advanced Science _______________________________
4. Spanish 2
5. Fine Art_____________________________________________
6. World History (Regular or Pre-AP)
7. Endorsement Elective__________________________________
8. Elective_____________________________________________
1. Advanced English______________________________________
2. Advanced Math*______________________________________
3. Advanced Science _____________________________________
4. Economics/Government (Dual Credit or regular)
5. College Transitions
6. Endorsement Elective__________________________________
7. Elective_____________________________________________
8. Elective_____________________________________________
1. English III (AP or Regular)
2. Advanced Math* _____________________________________
3. Advanced Science
____________________________________________________
4. US History (Dual Credit or Regular)
5. Endorsement Elective__________________________________
6. Endorsement Elective__________________________________
7. Elective______________________________________________
8. Elective______________________________________________
What will my child need to be
in the top 10%?
Top GPA
Distinguished Level =
Credits for the Foundation
Credits for one Endorsement
4 Math and 4 Science
One of the math must be Algebra II
What other things can help my
child have a stronger
diploma?
Take the tough classes
Sequencing of classes, esp. Career Tech
& electives
Passing classes the first time
Being in the top 10%, top half of the class
Performance Acknowledgements
Performance
Acknowledgements
Dual credit – 12 hours with 3.0+ or
an Associate degree
Earning a nationally or
internationally recognized
business or industry
certification/license
Performance
Acknowledgements
PSAT, SAT, ACT-PLAN, ACT
PSAT = commended scholar or higher
ACT-PLAN = college readiness in two of four subject
areas
SAT = combined reading and math score of 1250+
ACT = composite score of 28 (excluding writing)
Bragging to the world!!
The type of Endorsements and Performance
Acknowledgements your child earns will be written
on their:
Diploma
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