SECTION 74.61. High School Graduation Requirements

(a) Graduates of each high school are awarded the same type of diploma. The transcript or academic achievement record (AAR), rather than the diploma, records individual accomplishments, achievements, and courses completed and displays appropriate graduation seals.

(b) All credit for graduation must be earned no later than Grade 12.

(c) Except as provided in subsections (d) and (e) of this section, a student entering Grade 9 in the 2007-2008 school year and thereafter shall enroll in the courses necessary to complete the curriculum requirements for the recommended high school program specified in §74.63 of this title (relating to Recommended High School Program) or the advanced program specified in §74.64 of this title (relating to Distinguished Achievement High School Program--Advanced High School Program) unless the student, the student's parent or other person standing in parental relation to the student, and a school counselor or school administrator agree in writing signed by each party that the student should be permitted to take courses under the minimum high school program specified in §74.62 of this title (relating to Minimum High School Program) and the student:

(1) is at least 16 years of age;

(2) has completed two credits required for graduation in each subject of the foundation curriculum under the Texas Education Code, §28.002(a)(1); or

(3) has failed to be promoted to Grade 10 one or more times as determined by the school district.

(d) A student who was permitted to take courses under the minimum high school program prior to the 2009-2010 school year may remain in the minimum high school program.

(e) If an admission, review, and dismissal committee makes decisions that place a student with a disability on a modified curriculum in a subject area, the student will be automatically placed in the minimum high school program.

(f) High school courses successfully completed prior to Grade 9 and the 2007-2008 school year shall count toward graduation in the manner established in this chapter for credit in the year the course is successfully completed.

(g) To receive a high school diploma, a student entering Grade 9 in the 2007-2008 school year and thereafter must complete the following:

(1) in accordance with subsection (c) of this section, requirements of the minimum high school program specified in §74.62 of this title, the recommended high school program specified in §74.63 of this title, or the distinguished achievement high school program specified in §74.64 of this title; and

(2) testing requirements for graduation as specified in Chapter 101 of this title (relating to Assessment).

(h) A maximum of three credits of reading (selected from Reading I, II, or III) may be offered by districts for state graduation elective credit for identified students under the following conditions.

(1) The school district board of trustees shall adopt policies to identify students in need of additional reading instruction.

(2) District procedures shall include assessment of individual student needs, ongoing evaluation of each student's progress, and monitoring of instructional activities to ensure that student needs are addressed.

(i) An out-of-state or out-of-country transfer student (including foreign exchange students) or a transfer student from a Texas nonpublic school is eligible to receive a Texas diploma, but must complete all requirements of this section to satisfy state graduation requirements. Any course credit required in this section that is not completed by the student before he or she enrolls in a Texas school district may be satisfied through the provisions of §74.23 of this title (relating to Correspondence Courses and Distance Learning) and §74.24 of this title (relating to Credit by Examination) or by completing the course or courses according to the provisions of §74.26 of this title (relating to Award of Credit).

(j) Elective credits in all three graduation programs may be selected from the following:

(1) high school courses not required for graduation that are listed in the following chapters of this title:

(A) Chapter 110 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for English Language Arts and Reading);

(B) Chapter 111 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Mathematics);

(C) Chapter 112 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science);

(D) Chapter 113 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social Studies);

(E) Chapter 114 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Languages Other Than English);

(F) Chapter 115 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Health Education);

(G) Chapter 116 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Physical Education);

(H) Chapter 117 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Fine Arts);

(I) Chapter 126 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Technology Applications);

(J) Chapter 127 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career Development); and

(K) Chapter 130 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career and Technical Education);

(2) state-approved innovative courses as specified in §74.27 of this title (relating to Innovative Courses and Programs);

(3) Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC)--one to four credits; or

(4) Driver Education--one-half credit.

(k) College Board advanced placement and International Baccalaureate courses may be substituted for courses required in appropriate areas in all three high school graduation programs. College Board advanced placement and International Baccalaureate courses may be used as electives in all three high school graduation programs.

(l) Courses offered for dual credit in the core curriculum of an institution of higher education that cover all of the essential knowledge and skills for a course required for graduation may be substituted for courses required in the foundation curriculum and for languages other than English in all three high school graduation programs.

(m) Transition for physical education and science requirements.

(1) Science and physical education graduation requirements successfully completed prior to the 2010-2011 school year shall count toward graduation in the manner established at the time the credit was earned.

(2) Physical education graduation requirements successfully completed through a two- or three-credit career and technical education work-based training course prior to the 2011-2012 school year shall count toward graduation.

Source Note: The provisions of this §74.61 adopted to be effective September 1, 2005, 29 TexReg 9357; amended to be effective January 9, 2007, 32 TexReg 80; amended to be effective December 25, 2007, 32 TexReg 9624; amended to be effective August 23, 2010, 35 TexReg 5543