Graduation Requirements

FOR STUDENTS ENTERING 9th GRADE (for the first time) IN 2014-2015 AND THEREAFTER

TEXAS GRADUATES MUST COMPLETE THE FOUNDATION HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM

The District expects that all RISD students will fulfill the requirements of the RISD Foundation High School Program, earn at least one Endorsement, and enroll in the courses necessary to earn a Distinguished Level of Achievement.

A student may graduate under the Foundation High School Program without earning an endorsement if after the student’s sophomore year:

· 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 Texas Education Agency [and available in your school counseling office] allowing the student to graduate under the Foundation High School Program without earning an endorsement. (19 TAC §74.11(b).)

Note: High School Advancement in Classification – Grades 9-12

Mastery of at least 70 percent of the objectives on state-approved courses is required. Grade-level advancement for students in grades 9-12 must be earned by course credits as follows:

· Beginning Grade 10: Six (6.0) accumulated credits

· Beginning Grade 11: Twelve (12.0) accumulated credits

· Beginning Grade 12: Eighteen (18.0) accumulated credits

The following is an overview of the RISD Foundation High School Program. (For students entering 9th grade (for the first time) in 2014-15 and thereafter.

FOUNDATION HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM – 22 credits

(without Endorsement)

English (including AP, Dual Credit, and OnRamps courses) - 4 credits

· English 1, 2, and 3

· Advanced English Course

Mathematics (including AP, Dual Credit, and OnRamps courses) - 3 credits

· Algebra 1

· Geometry

· Algebra 2 (opt out provision)

Science (including AP, Dual Credit, and OnRamps courses) - 3 credits

· Biology

· Chemistry (opt out provision)

· Physics (opt out provision)

Social Studies (including AP, Dual Credit, and OnRamps courses) - 4 credits

· World Geography/AP Human Geography

· World History (opt out provision)

· US History

· US Government (1/2 credit)

· Economics (1/2 credit)

Physical Education - 1 credit

Fine Arts - 1 credit

Languages Other Than English - 2 credits

· Two credits in the same language OR

· Two credits from AP Computer Science, AP Computer Science Principles, Computer Science 1, 2, and/or 3

Technology * - .5 credit

Health ** - .5 credit

Electives - 3 credits

Total credits - 22

FOUNDATION HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM – 26 credits

(with Endorsement)

English (including AP, Dual Credit, and OnRamps courses) - 4 credits

· English 1, 2, and 3

· Advanced English Course

Mathematics (including AP, Dual Credit, and OnRamps courses) - 4 credits

· Algebra 1

· Geometry

· Algebra 2 (opt out provision) (required for STEM Endorsement)

Additional Mathematics Course

Science (including AP, Dual Credit, and OnRamps courses) - 4 credits

· Biology

· Chemistry (opt out provision)

· Physics (opt out provision)

Additional Lab-based Science Course

Social Studies (including AP, Dual Credit, and OnRamps courses) - 4 credits

· World Geography/AP Human Geography

· World History (opt out provision)

· US History

· US Government (1/2 credit)

· Economics (1/2 credit)

Physical Education - 1 credit

Fine Arts - 1 credit

Languages Other Than English - 2 credits

· Two credits in the same language OR

· Two credits from AP Computer Science, AP Computer Science Principles, Computer Science 1, 2, and/or 3

Technology *+ - .5 credit

Health ** - .5 credit

Electives - 5 credits

Total credits - 26

*The one-half Technology credit required for the RISD Foundation High School Program must be from Touch Systems Data Entry; Principles of Business, Marketing and Finance; Business Information Management 1; or Principles of Information Technology

+Beginning with the class of 2026-27 Technology credit will not be a requirement for graduation.

**The one-half Health credit must be from Health Education 1, Principles of Health Science, or Health Science.

Opt out Provision allows for flexibility in a student’s course sequence to meet individual needs where appropriate. Students who desire to opt out of certain course requirements should carefully review the implications of the action with their counselor. Course changes could alter the graduation program designation under which the student may be eligible to graduate and could affect eligibility for admission to the student’s chosen institution of higher learning. Students who wish to request to opt out of a course and enroll in an alternate course should submit the “Student/Parent Request to Opt out of Course” form to the student’s counselor. The campus Opt-out Committee will consider the request and the student’s Personal Graduation Plan (PGP) will be updated accordingly. See your counselor for an Opt Out Request.

ENDORSEMENT REQUIREMENTS

Arts and Humanities

RISD offers four pathways to earn an Arts and Humanities Endorsement. Students need only complete the requirements in ONE of the pathways to earn the Endorsement.

1. Social Studies

five Social Studies credits

2. Language Other Than English (LOTE)

four levels in the same language in a LOTE OR

two levels of the same language in a LOTE and two levels of a different language in a LOTE (Not Computer Science)

3. Fine Arts

select four credits from one or two of the following disciplines:

· Art

· Dance

· Music

· Theatre

4. English electives (four credits from below)

English 4 (Regular or AP, Dual Credit, and OnRamps)

Humanities

Creative Writing

Research and Technical Writing

Independent Study in English

Business and Industry

RISD offers three pathways to earn a Business and Industry Endorsement. Students need only complete the requirements in ONE of the pathways to earn the Endorsement.

1. Academic Sequence

four credits of English electives to include three levels in one of the following areas, and one other English elective credit:

· Advanced Journalism Newspaper Production

· Advanced Journalism Yearbook Production

· Debate

2. Career and Technical Education (CTE) Sequence

four or more credits in CTE electives:

o At least two from the same cluster

o One advanced level CTE course

o The final course in the sequence must be selected from one of the clusters below:

· Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

· Architecture and Construction

· Arts, A/V Technology, and Communications

· Business Management and Administration

· Finance

· Hospitality and Tourism

· Information Technology

· Manufacturing

· Marketing

· Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics

3. Combination of Academic and CTE

four credits from options 1 and 2 above (can include credits from Web Design, Digital Communication in the 21st Century, and OnRamps Arts and Entertainment Technology)

Multidisciplinary

RISD offers three pathways to earn a Multidisciplinary Endorsement. Students need only complete the requirements in ONE of the pathways to earn the Endorsement.

1. Foundation subject areas

four credits in each of the four foundation subject areas to include English IV and chemistry and/or physics

2. Advanced Placement and/or Dual Credit

four credits of AP or Dual Credit to include courses selected from English, mathematics, science, social studies, economics, LOTE (Not Computer Science), or fine arts

3. Academic or CTE Sequence

four advanced courses that prepare students to enter the workforce/postsecondary education from within one endorsement area or among endorsement areas that are not in a coherent sequence

Public Services

RISD offers two pathways to earn a Public Services Endorsement. Students need only complete the requirements in ONE of the pathways to earn the Endorsement.

1. Academic Sequence

four courses in JROTC (Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps)

2. Career and Technical Education (CTE) Sequence

four or more credits in CTE electives:

o At least two from the same cluster

o One advanced level CTE course

o The final course in the sequence must be selected from one of the clusters below:

· Education and Training

· Government and Public Administration

· Health Science

· Human Services

· Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security

STEM

RISD offers five pathways to earn a STEM Endorsement. Students need only complete the requirements in ONE of the pathways to earn the Endorsement.

1. Computer Science Sequence

four credits in Computer Science from the following:

· Computer Science Principles (AP)

· Computer Science I

· Computer Science II

· Computer Science III

· AP Computer Science

· Game Programming and Design

· Technology Applications Independent Studies

2. Mathematics Sequence

three credits in Mathematics by successfully completing Algebra II and two additional mathematics courses for which Algebra II is a prerequisite (beyond Algebra 1 and Geometry)

3. Science Sequence

four credits in Science by successfully completing Chemistry, Physics and 2 additional science courses (beyond Biology)

4. Career and Technical Education (CTE) Sequence

four or more credits in CTE electives:

o At least two from the same cluster

o One advanced level CTE course

o The final course in the sequence must be selected from the STEM cluster

5. Combination of Academic and CTE credits

Ø in addition to Algebra II, Chemistry, and Physics, a coherent sequence of three additional credits from not more than two disciplines in numbers 1, 2, 3, and/or 4

Algebra 2, Chemistry and physics are required for the STEM Endorsement

DISTINGUISHED LEVEL OF ACHIEVEMENT REQUIREMENTS

A student may earn a distinguished level of achievement by successfully completing the Foundation Graduation Plan and each of the following:

· Four credits in mathematics, which must include Algebra II

· Four credits in science

· The curriculum requirements for at least one endorsement (26 credits)

PERFORMANCE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT REQUIREMENTS

A student may earn a performance acknowledgement:

o For outstanding performance

o In a Dual Credit course

§ Complete at least 12 hours of college academic courses (Dual Credit and advanced technical credit courses) with a grade of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale

OR

§ Complete an associate degree while in high school

o In Bilingualism and Biliteracy

§ By demonstrating proficiency in accordance with school district grading policy in two or more languages by:

· Completing all English language arts requirements and maintaining a minimum grade point average (GPA) of the equivalent of 80 on a scale of 100, and

· Satisfying one of the following:

o Completion of a minimum of three credits in the same language in a language other than English with a minimum GPA of the equivalent of 80 on a scale of 100, or

o Demonstrated proficiency in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Level IV or higher in a language other than English with a minimum GPA of the equivalent of 80 on a scale of 100, or

o Completion of at least three credits in foundation subject area courses in a language other than English with a minimum GPA of 80 on a scale of 100, or

o Demonstrated proficiency in one or more languages other than English through one of the following methods:

§ A score of 3 or higher on a College Board Advanced Placement exam for a language other than English, or

§ Performance on a national assessment of language proficiency in a language other than English of at least Intermediate High or its equivalent

· An English language learner must also have:

o Participated in and met the exit criteria for bilingual or English as a second language (ESL) program; and

o Scored at the Advanced High level on the Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System (TELPAS).

o On an Advanced Placement test

§ Earn a score of 3 or above on a College Board advanced placement examination

o On the PSAT, the ACT-Aspire, the SAT, or ACT

§ Earn a score on the PSAT/NMSQT® that qualifies the student for recognition as a commended scholar or higher by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation, as part of the National Hispanic Recognition Program (NHRP) of the College Board or as part of the National Achievement Scholarship Program of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation;

§ Achieve the readiness benchmark score on at least three of the five subject tests on the ACT-Aspire^TM examination;

§ Earn a composite score of at least 1310 on SAT®; or

§ Earn a composite score on the ACT® examination of 28 (excluding the writing subscore)

o For earning a nationally or internationally recognized business or industry certification or license

§ A student may earn the Certifications / Licensures performance acknowledgement with:

· Performance on an examination or series of examinations sufficient to obtain a nationally or internationally recognized business or industry certification; or

· Performance on an examination sufficient to obtain a government-required credential to practice a profession

§ Nationally or internationally recognized business or industry certification shall be defined as an industry validated credential that complies with knowledge and skills standards promulgated by a nationally or internationally recognized business, industry, professional, or government entity representing a particular profession or occupation that is issued by or endorsed by:

· A national or international business, industry, or professional organization;

· A state agency or other government entity; or

· A state-based industry association

§ Certifications or licensures for performance acknowledgements shall:

· Be age appropriate for high school students;

· Represent a student’s substantial course of study and/or end-of-program knowledge and skills;

· Include an industry recognized examination or series of examinations, an industry validated skill test, or demonstrated proficiency through documented, supervised field experience; and

· Represent substantial knowledge and multiple skills needed for successful entry into a high-skill occupation.

Additional State of Texas Graduation Requirements

Financial Aid Graduation Requirement

Financial Aid applications inform postsecondary institutions' decisions about student eligibility for federal, state, and institutional funds. Financial aid awards can help students pay for their educational expenses after high school.

Each high school senior in Texas public school district or open enrollment charter school must complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) as a state graduation requirement. Texas Education Code 28.0256 allows a student to opt out of the financial aid application requirement by submitting a signed for that authorizes the student to decline.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Training Requirement

TEC, §28.0023, requires that the SBOE by rule require school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to provide instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and for students to receive the CPR instruction at least once before graduation.

Instruction on Proper Interaction with Peace Officers

TAC, §74.39 - Beginning with students enrolled in 9th grade in 2018-19 and thereafter, a school district or open-enrollment charter school shall provide instruction in one or more courses to students in Grades 9-12 on proper interaction with peace officers during traffic stops and other in-person encounters. The required instruction:

(1) may be provided as a part of any course or courses; and

(2) must be provided to each student at least once before graduation from high school.

(b) The instruction must include all of the following information:

(1) the role of law enforcement and the duties and responsibilities of peace officers;

(2) a person's rights concerning interactions with peace officers;

(3) proper behavior for civilians and peace officers during interactions;

(4) laws regarding questioning and detention by peace officers, including any law requiring a person to present proof of identity to a peace officer, and the consequences for a person's or officer's failure to comply with those laws; and

(5) how and where to file a complaint against or a compliment on behalf of a peace officer.