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Senate Bill 149 Alternative Methods for Satisfying Certain Public High School

Graduation Requirements

Region One Education Service Center Office of School Improvement, Accountability and Compliance

©2015, Region One Education Service Center

Overview of Senate Bill 149

Background & Purpose

Eligibility Requirements

Committee Procedures

Additional Academic

Requirements

Retest & Reporting

Requirements

Texas High School Diploma


Background of Senate Bill 149 Sponsored by Senator Kelton Seliger

• Approximately 28,000 students may not graduate in 2015 due to failure to pass one or more STAAR end of course assessments.

• Senate Bill 149 provides an alternative method for satisfying certain public high school graduation requirements, including the use of an individual graduation committee.

• Senate Bill 149 is modeled after the grade placement committee implemented under the Student Success Initiative.


Alternative Method Timeline

May 11, 2015 Senate Bill 149 Signed by Governor Greg Abbott

2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017

Students eligible to receive an IGC who are 11 or 12th graders and taken/failed not more than two EOC exams.

2014-2015 School Districts will establish procedures for appointing alternative committee members, procedures and timelines.

2015-2016 2016-2017

Commissioner is required to adopt rules related to IGC committees, timelines and reporting requirements.

September 1, 2017

Provisions related to IGCs and TSI as a substitution for Algebra I or English II EOC test requirements expire.

September 1, 2018

District data reporting requirements expire.


Senate Bill 149 Guidance Documents

Final Version of SB149 To the Administrator Addressed letter

TEA Frequently Asked Questions


See SB 149

Additional Resources

at http://www.esc1.net/Page/2478

http://www.esc1.net/

http://www.esc1.net/Page/2478

http://www.esc1.net/Page/2478


Purpose of Senate Bill 149 Signed by Governor Greg Abbott on May 11, 2015

• Revised the state’s assessment graduation requirements for students enrolled in 11th or 12th grade for 2014-2015, 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 school year.

• A student who has failed the EOC assessment graduation requirements for not more than two courses may receive a Texas High School Diploma if they qualify to graduate by means of an individual graduation committee (IGC).

• Also allows a student who did not pass the Algebra I and/or English II EOC assessments a second time to use the Texas Success Initiative assessment to meet the EOC requirement for the corresponding course. The student must receive a TSI score indicating readiness.

Emergency Rule 120

Days


Qualified for IGC High School Diploma Awarded on the Basis of Individual Graduation Committee Review

1. Applies only to an 11th and 12th grade students who have failed to comply with the end of course assessment instrument performance requirements for not more than two courses.

2. For each student to who this applies, the school district shall establish an individual graduation committee at the end of or after the student’s 11th grade year to determine whether the student may qualify to graduate.

3. A student may not qualify to graduate under this section before the student’s 12th grade year.


District Requirements

• Procedures

The superintendent of each school district shall establish procedures for convening of an individual graduation committee.

• Translator

A school district shall provide an appropriate translator, if available, for the appropriate person described who is unable to speak English (parent/guardian, advocate or student).


IGC Notification Requirement

Districts are required to make a good faith effort to notify the parent/guardian of the IGC meeting.

1. Time of the meeting; 2. Place of the meeting; and 3. Purpose of the meeting.

Notice must be provided 1. In person, by mail or by e-mail; 2. Be clear and easy to understand; and 3. Be written in English, Spanish, or to the extent practicable, in the individual’s native language.

Sample District Letters

Available on the Region One

Website


Individual Graduation Committee

The superintendent of each district shall establish procedures for convening of an individual graduation committee. (2014-2015)

The committee shall be composed of: 1. The principal or designee. 2. The teacher of the course for which the student failed to perform

satisfactorily. 3. The department chair/lead teacher supervising the teacher.

As Applicable:

1. The student’s parent or person standing in relation. 2. A designated advocate if the parent is unable to serve. 3. The student, at the student’s option, if they are at least 18 or an

emancipated minor.


Committee Determination of Eligibility

IGCs can authorize eligible students to graduate based on additional considerations listed in TAC § 28.0258 (h) (1-15) if:

1. The committee decision is unanimous.

2. The student has passed all curriculum requirements for graduation

per SBOE or commissioner transition rule. Students cannot graduate via the IGC before their 12th grade year.

3. The decision of the committee is final and may not be appealed.


Eligibility Requirements Texas High School Diploma

Alternative Method

Requirements

Successfully completes the curriculum requirements for the FHSP or provided

by the transition plan adopted by the commissioner

Additional Remediation

For each End of Course failed, a project or

portfolio that demonstrates proficiency

in the subject area

Successfully completes all additional requirements

recommended by the IGC

Students may submit coursework that was previously completed to satisfy recommended additional requirements. The committee’s decision vote must be unanimous.


Required Committee Considerations IGCs shall consider the following in determining

whether a student is qualified to graduate

Recommendations of the teachers in each course where an EOC test was failed.

Grades in each of the courses where an EOC test was failed.

Scores on the relevant failed EOC tests.

Student performance on the additional academic requirements. (project or portfolio)

Successful completion of a dual credit course in one of the four core subject areas .

Satisfaction of any of the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) college readiness benchmarks set by THECB.

Student’s school attendance rate.

Number of hours of remediation attended, including college preparatory courses under Chapter 39.025(b-2) If Applicable or attendance and successful completion of transitional college courses in reading or mathematics

Successful completion of a Pre-AP, AP, or IB program course in one of the four core subject areas.

An “Advanced High” rating on the most recent high school administration of TELPAS .

A score of 50 or better on a CLEP test.

Scores on ACT, SAT, or ASVAB tests.

Completion of a sequence of CTE program courses required to attain an industry-recognized credential or certificate.

Overall preparedness for postsecondary success.

Any other academic information designated for consideration by the board of trustees of the school district.


Special Considerations

• An ELL student who is exempt from passing English I is eligible for IGC review if the student attempts all other EOCs but fails to achieve a satisfactory score on one additional test.

Eligible English Language Learners

•A student may not qualify to graduate based on the IGC determination before the student’s 12th grade year.

•A student must satisfactorily complete the credit requirements for graduation, must be classified as a 12th grade student, must have taken all required EOC assessments and must have been provided an opportunity to retake EOC assessments.

3 Year Graduates

• TAKS graduates are not eligible to receive a diploma under Senate Bill 149. It is specific to students who have taken and failed to achieve the EOC assessment performance requirements.

TAKS Graduates

• To be eligible to graduate based n IGC determination, a student must successfully complete the credit requirements for the foundation high school program or as otherwise provided by the transition plan adopted by the commissioner.

MHSP, RHSP or DAP Students

• A transfer student is eligible to graduate based on IGC determination, if the student has failed not more than two of the assessments the student has taken.

Transfer Students


Special Considerations

• The ARD decision makes the determination.

• IGC would not be necessary if the ARD determines that the student is not required to achieve satisfactory performance on the EOC assessments.

Student Receiving

Special Education Services

• Students who satisfactorily complete credit requirements for graduation under the RHSP without modifications to content and the student achieved satisfactory performance on at least three EOC assessments, the student may be awarded a diploma.

Students Receiving


• Students who satisfactorily complete the requirements for graduation under the FHSP as well as the additional credit requirements in mathematics, science, and elective courses with or without modified curriculum; satisfactorily completed the courses required for an endorsement without any modified curriculum and the student achieved satisfactory performance on at least three EOC assessments, the student may be awarded a FSHP program diploma.

Students Receiving



Sample Resolution of the Board of Trustees

Key Considerations for Developing a Resolution 1. Clarify district legal

and local graduation policies.

2. Provides an opportunity for Board of Trustees to recommend additional academic requirements.


Retest & Reporting Requirements

RETESTS

Students must retake the relevant EOC tests until they graduate.

ACCOUNTABILITY

Districts will be held accountable for retest results in keeping with state accountability system requirements.

REPORTING

By Dec. 1 each year, districts must report in PEIMS the number of students for whom IGCs are convened, and of those, the number graduated by the IGC each year.


Resources

84th Texas Legislature. (May 2015). Senate Bill 149, Enrolled Bill, Retrieved from: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/84R/billtext/pdf/SB00149I.pdf

Texas Education Agency. (May 11, 2015). To the Administrator Addressed Letter. Assessment Graduation Requirements as Amended by Senate (SB) 149. Retrieved from: http://tea.texas.gov/About_TEA/News_and_Multimedia/Correspondence/TAA_Letters/Assessment_Graduation_Requirements_as_Amended_by_Senate_Bill_(SB)_149/

Texas Education Agency. (May 15, 2015). Division of Curriculum. SB 149 – Individual Graduation Committees Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved from: http://tea.texas.gov/graduation.aspx

Moak, Casey & Associates (April 29, 2015). Senate Bill 149 Summary. Retrieved from http://www.esc1.net/cms/lib/TX21000366/Centricity/Domain/19/SB%20149_As-Passed_4-29-2015.pdf

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/84R/billtext/pdf/SB00149I.pdf

http://tea.texas.gov/About_TEA/News_and_Multimedia/Correspondence/TAA_Letters/Assessment_Graduation_Requirements_as_Amended_by_Senate_Bill_(SB)_149/

http://tea.texas.gov/About_TEA/News_and_Multimedia/Correspondence/TAA_Letters/Assessment_Graduation_Requirements_as_Amended_by_Senate_Bill_(SB)_149/

http://tea.texas.gov/graduation.aspx

http://www.esc1.net/cms/lib/TX21000366/Centricity/Domain/19/SB 149_As-Passed_4-29-2015.pdf








Division of Instructional, School Improvement, & College Readiness Support Office of School Improvement, Accountability and Compliance

Dr. Eduardo Cancino, Deputy Director 956 984-6021

[email protected]

Dr. Tina McIntyre, Administrator 956 984-6027

[email protected]

Belinda S. Gorena, Coordinator 956 984-6173

[email protected]

Ruben Degollado, Specialist 956 984-6185

[email protected]

Benjamin Macias, Evaluation and Assessment Specialist 956 984-6234

[email protected]

Kelly VanHee, Specialist 956 984-6190

[email protected]

Contacts

mailto:[email protected]




