Recent Legislative Action Modifies Graduation Requirements
Please be advised that prior to the closing of the most recent Texas legislative session, law-makers passed House Bill 3. In short, HB3 includes significant changes in current high school graduation requirements that will be effective for all students, beginning with the upcoming 2009-2010 school year. The Texas Education Agency is still analyzing the legislation and providing specific guidance for school district. In the next few months, board policy will be adopted to accommodate the changes.
Here’s what has not changed:
The total number of credits required to graduate remains at 26.
Students on schedule to graduate in 2011 and beyond are still
required to successfully complete 4 credits in the 4 foundation
areas of mathematics, English, language arts, science and social
studies/economics. This is commonly referred to as the 4X4
requirements.
Because of the increased requirements of the 4X4 directive,
legislators have made changes with the intent to provide more
flexibility within the elective course selections. As a result
students who are in the recommended program:
1. Students will no longer be required to include health as a
part of the graduation plan;
2. Students will no longer be required to include technology
applications as a part of the graduation plan; and
3. Students will be required to complete 1 credit of physical
education as opposed to the previously required 1.5 credits.
There are additional courses that may still be subject to change
under the new legislation. However, in order to avoid confusion,
those particular courses, such as speech communication, will be
addressed after the appropriate guidelines have been solidified by
the Texas Education Agency.
New Caney ISD does not plan any immediate changes in class
schedules. After our district has had more input from TEA,
committees will meet to determine whether the district will adopt
local standards to require health, technology application and
physical education or whether the less restrictive state guidelines
will be followed. Whatever the decision, New Caney ISD will
implement changes for the 2010-11 school year. When those changes
are made, parents will be notified. Stay tuned.
