Sec. 28.0255. PILOT PROGRAM: THREE-YEAR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA PLAN. (a) In this section, "certificate program," "public junior college," "public state college," and "public technical institute" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003.
(b) This section applies only to a school district:
(1) with an enrollment of more than 150,000 students and located primarily in a county with a population of 2.2 million or more that is adjacent to a county with a population of more than 600,000; or
(2) with an enrollment of more than 5,000 but less than 7,000 students and located primarily in a county that contains the headwaters of the San Gabriel River.
(c) A school district to which this section applies may develop and implement a pilot program for students who wish to obtain a high school diploma after completion of three years of secondary school attendance as an alternative to the traditional four-year period of attendance. The program must include partnerships between the school district and public junior colleges, public technical institutes, public state colleges, and any other public postsecondary institutions in this state offering academic or technical education or vocational training under a certificate program or an associate degree program to facilitate the prompt enrollment of students in those institutions after high school graduation under the program.
(d) Participation by a student in the program must be voluntary, with approval of the student's parent. A student who agrees to participate in the program may, on request, discontinue participation and resume taking courses under a high school program based on a traditional four-year period of attendance.
(e) Notwithstanding Section 28.025, the school district shall specify the curriculum requirements for receiving a high school diploma under the program. The curriculum requirements must ensure that a student who graduates under the program possesses sufficient knowledge and skills in English language arts and mathematics to be capable of performing successfully in public junior college-level courses.
(f) The school district shall submit to the commissioner for approval the district's proposal regarding the scope of the program and the program curriculum requirements. The school district shall also submit the proposed curriculum requirements to the State Board of Education for comment. The district may not implement the program before obtaining the commissioner's approval of the scope of the program and the program curriculum requirements.
(g) A student is entitled to a high school diploma if the student:
(1) successfully complies with the curriculum requirements specified under Subsection (e); and
(2) performs satisfactorily, as determined by the commissioner under Subsection (h), on end-of-course assessment instruments listed under Section 39.023(c) for courses in which the student was enrolled.
(h) For purposes of Subsection (g)(2), the commissioner shall determine the level of satisfactory performance on applicable end-of-course assessment instruments administered to a student.
(i) The school district shall report the academic achievement record of students who have completed the program on a transcript that clearly identifies the program and distinguishes the program from the other high school programs based on a traditional four-year period of attendance.
(j) A student who has received a diploma under the program is exempt from the compulsory school attendance requirements under Section 25.085.
(k) To the extent this section conflicts with any other provision of this code or rule adopted under this code, this section prevails.
(l) This section expires September 1, 2023.
Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 660 (H.B. 1122), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2013.
Amended by:
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 548 (H.B. 2025), Sec. 1, eff. June 16, 2015.
For expiration of this section, see Subsection (l).
Last modified: September 28, 2016