Error processing SSI file
Error processing SSI file

TEA Correspondence

A Microsoft Word version of this letter is available for download and PRINTING.

DATE: December 3, 2007

TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED:

SUBJECT: 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter F, Graduation Requirements, Beginning with School Year 2007-2008

The State Board of Education (SBOE) approved amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter F, Graduation Requirements, Beginning with School Year 2007-2008, at the November 2006 board meeting.  Rules further clarifying the requirements in Subchapter F were adopted by the SBOE at the November 2007 meeting.
The revised graduation requirements in Subchapter F reflect the addition of a fourth credit of math and a fourth credit of science to the Recommended High School Program (RHSP) and the Distinguished Achievement Program (DAP) as mandated in Housel Bill 1, 79th Texas Legislature, Third Called Session, 2006.  Implementation of the new graduation requirements is required beginning in school year 2007-08, and is applicable to students entering ninth grade this year.  The amendments to Subchapter F change the number of credits required for graduation under the RHSP and DAP from 24 to 26.

Mathematics

Under the RHSP, four credits of mathematics are required.  The credits must consist of Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry.  After successful completion of Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II, a student may select the fourth required credit from the approved list of mathematics courses. Mathematical Models with Applications may be taken as one of the four mathematics credits, but if selected, Mathematical Models with Applications must be taken prior to Algebra II.

Under the DAP, four credits of mathematics are required. The credits must consist of Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry and an additional SBOE-approved mathematics course for which Algebra II is a prerequisite.

Science

Under the RHSP, four credits of science are required.  One credit must be a biology credit.  Two additional credits must be chosen from Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC), a chemistry credit and a physics credit.  IPC cannot be taken as the final or fourth year of science, but must be taken before the senior year of high school.  The fourth year of science may be selected from the list of state approved laboratory-based courses.  IPC will no longer count as one of the four science credits for students entering Grade 9 in the 2012-2013 school year or later.

Under the DAP, four credits of science are required.  The credits must consist of biology, chemistry, physics, and an additional approved laboratory-based science course. IPC cannot be taken as one of the four science credits.

At the November 2007 meeting, the SBOE adopted an amendment to establish in rule a grandfather clause allowing students who took IPC in Grade 8 during the 2006-2007 school year, and who wish to graduate under the Distinguished Achievement Program, to count IPC as one of their four science credits.

To learn more about the graduation requirements please visit our website at the following address: www.tea.state.tx.us/curriculum/fourbyfour.html

Please share the Chapter 74 revisions with curriculum directors, administrators, counselors, and other appropriate leaders within your district. Thank you for all the hard work you do on behalf of Texas students.

Sincerely,

Susan Barnes
Associate Commissioner for Standards and Programs

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Changes to Graduation Requirements for the Recommended High School Program (RHSP) and the
Distinguished Achievement Program (DAP)
Updated November 30, 2007

General

1. For students who FIRST entered Grade 9 in 2006-2007, but who did not earn enough credits to be considered 10th graders in 2007-2008, how will the requirements affect them?  They will be returning 9th graders in 2007-2008.

Returning 9th graders will follow the graduation requirements in Subchapter E of Chapter 74. They will not be subject to the new 4x4 requirements in Subchapter F. Graduation requirements are determined by the year a student first enters 9th grade regardless of whether the grade is repeated or not.

2. I have a student that completed 8th grade this past May and attended summer school taking 9th grade classes.  Does the student fall under the 24 or 26 credit RHSP since he started 9th grade in the summer of 2007?

The new RHSP requirements begin with school year 2007-08. Students may take classes for credit toward high school graduation prior to entering Grade 9, but taking classes in summer school does not make a student a ninth grader in the summer. This student will fall under the new 26-credit RHSP.

3. May a student continue to earn credits toward graduation for courses taken before high school?

Yes.

Mathematics

1. Is there a prescribed course sequence for mathematics?

Under both the RHSP and the DAP programs, Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry (in no specific order) must be taken prior to the fourth math credit course. 

However, under the RHSP, if Mathematical Models with Applications (MMA) is selected, MMA must be taken prior to Algebra II.

2. If a student takes Algebra I in Grade 8, does that course count as one of the four required math courses?

Yes.

3. If a student takes Algebra I in Grade 8 and passes the course and thus receives a state credit for Algebra I, can that student choose to repeat Algebra I in Grade 9 for a better grade and still receive a state credit for Algebra I in Grade 9?

Once a student is awarded a credit, the credit cannot be taken away. Additionally, a student may only be awarded state credit for a single course one time. For example, if a student were to take Algebra I in Grade 8, the student may not be awarded state credit for that course a second time.

4. If a student takes Algebra I a second time to improve his or her grade, can a higher grade replace the first grade?

While award of credit falls under state law and rule, decisions regarding grades are left to local district discretion. A student can only be awarded credit for a course once; however, it is up to the district which grades to use for local GPA or class rank determinations.

5. Does Independent Study in Math count as a fourth year of math?

Yes, Independent Study in Mathematics can count as the fourth math credit under either the RHSP or the DAP.

6. Are all of the IB math courses acceptable as a fourth year of math?

The following IB math courses are acceptable as fourth year math courses:

  • International Baccalaureate (IB) Mathematical Studies Standard Level;
  • IB Mathematics Standard Level;
  • IB Mathematics Higher Level;
  • IB Further Mathematics Standard Level;

7. Can “Math Models” be taken in the same year/at the same time as Algebra II and the student still receive math credit for both?

No. Students must take Mathematical Models with Applications, prior to Algebra II to receive mathematics credit under the RHSP. Mathematical Models with Applications cannot count as one of the four math credits under the DAP.

8. What happens if a student is failing Algebra II and drops the course?  Can that student then go back and take “Math Models” and then Algebra II?

If a student drops Algebra II, goes back to take Mathematical Models with Applications and then takes Algebra II, the student can be awarded credit for each of the two courses.

9. Can Algebra I and Math Models be taken concurrently?

Yes.

10. Is college algebra (dual credit) acceptable as a fourth math credit?

Yes, as long as the college algebra course completely covers the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for one of the courses that is allowable for the fourth math credit.

11. What are the differences in the math requirements for students graduating under the DAP versus students graduating under the RHSP?

Under the RHSP, students must take Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry. The fourth math course does not have to be a course for which Algebra II is a prerequisite and may be Mathematical Models with Applications if taken prior to Algebra II.

Under the DAP, students must take Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry and then a fourth math course for which Algebra II is a prerequisite.

12. Can students take AP Computer Science for the fourth math credit?

This course is allowed under the RHSP but is not under the DAP.

13. Can Computer Science be taught by a secondary math certified math teacher or must the teacher be certified in Computer Science?

In order to teach Computer Science, a teacher must have a Computer Science certificate.

Science

1. Is there a prescribed course sequence for science?   

For the RHSP, it is State Board of Education (SBOE) intent that students should take biology, chemistry, and physics (in no specific order) and then take a fourth science credit course.

For the DAP, it is stated: “After successful completion of a biology course, a chemistry course, and a physics course, a student may select the fourth required credit from any of the following laboratory-based courses…” Students are not required to take biology, chemistry and physics in any specific order.

2. What are the differences in the science requirements for students graduating under the DAP versus students graduating under the RHSP?

Under the RHSP, students must take biology; a choice of two courses from a list of options that includes IPC (through 2011-2012); and then a fourth science course.

Under the DAP, students must take biology, chemistry and physics and then a fourth science course. IPC and Principals of Technology I may not be taken to fulfill the four credits of science requirements under the DAP.

3. Can a student who entered Grade 9 in school year 2007-08 use IPC as one of the four science credits?

A student may use IPC as one of the four science credits under the RHSP through 2011-2012. A student may NOT use IPC as one of the four science credits under the DAP beginning with students who entered Grade 9 in 2007-2008.

4. What about students who took IPC as eighth graders in 2006-07?

Students who took IPC as eighth graders in the 2006-07 school year may count IPC as one of the four science credits under DAP. Students who take IPC as eighth graders in 2007-08 or later may not count IPC as one of the four science credits under DAP.

5. If a student takes IPC, does that automatically eliminate the student from graduating under the DAP?

No. A student who takes IPC may still graduate under the DAP by earning four science credits in addition to the IPC credit.

6. When can IPC be taken?

For students graduating under the RHSP, IPC cannot be taken as the final or fourth year of science and must be taken before the senior year of high school. For students graduating under the DAP, IPC cannot be taken as one of the four science courses required for graduation.

7. Can a high school student still enroll in IPC through the school year 2011-2012, and earn one Academic Elective credit under either high school program?

Students who enter Grade 9 in 2012-13 will no longer be able to take IPC as one of the four science courses required for graduation. At this time there are no plans to remove IPC completely from the course offerings. Therefore, beginning in 2007-2008 students working toward graduating under the DAP would only be able to use an IPC credit as an academic elective and beginning in 2012-2013 students working toward graduating under the RHSP would also only be able to use an IPC credit as an academic elective.

8. Can a student earn credit for AP Biology, AP Chemistry or AP Physics as the fourth year of science if the student has already taken biology, chemistry and physics as the first three science courses?

Yes, because the content of the AP course is different from and more advanced than the content of the TEKS-based course. The student may earn credit for the AP course as the fourth year of science.

9. Can a student who has taken AP Biology as his or her required biology course then take TEKS-based biology for the fourth credit?

No. If students have selected AP Biology to fulfill the biology requirement, they may not take biology for the fourth credit. This sequence does not support the Legislature’s intent to increase academic rigor in the senior year. AP is considered college-level work that includes advanced academic instruction beyond, or in greater depth than, the essential knowledge and skills for the equivalent high school course.

10. Since it is on the list, can Principles of Technology I (PT I) be taken for the fourth science credit if the student has already taken physics?

No. PT I cannot be taken for the fourth science credit after physics has been taken. Students who have taken physics have covered many of the same concepts included in PT I and are able to count PT I as the physics credit.

11. Can college courses count toward the 4th science credit on the DAP?

Yes. If a college course is taken as dual enrollment, the PEIMS number for the TEKS-based high school science course would be used and the course would be treated like any other TEKS-based course on the list of allowable courses.

12. Can students earn credit for biology, chemistry or physics as the fourth year of science?

Under the RHSP, a student might be able to take a physics or chemistry course for the fourth science credit until the phase out of IPC in 2011-2012.

13. Can students take Medical Microbiology and Pathophysiology for the fourth science credit?

These half credit courses are allowed under RHSP if taken together for a total of one credit, but are not allowed for the DAP.

Mathematics/Science

1. Can students get math and/or science credit for successful completion of a computer science course?

AP Computer Science is one of the options for earning the fourth mathematics credit for the RHSP only.

Computer Science is NOT an option for the fourth science credit for either the RHSP or DAP.

2. Can students get math and/or science credit for an engineering course?

The State Board of Education directed staff to begin development of Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for an engineering course. This course will become one of the options for the fourth science credit.

Engineering will NOT be an option for the fourth year of mathematics.

TEA Homepage

Back to TEA Correspondence Homepage

Error processing SSI file