House Bill 5

The State of Texas passed House Bill 5 legislation that changes graduation requirements beginning with the 2014-2015 school year. The graduation plan will add a variety of new tracks designed to help students choose a career path. No longer will there be minimum, recommended, and distinguished graduation plans, but instead, a foundation plan combined with endorsement coursework for different educational disciplines.

The foundation program consists of 22 credits. Students will not be required to take four years of math, science, or social studies to complete the foundation program. Instead, they’ll need to receive three credits for each of these subjects and will be able to choose some of the core coursework they take. Students are still required to take four years of English.

For math, students still need to take Algebra I and Geometry, but can choose their third credit. For science, students will be required to take Biology, but can choose their next two credits. For social studies, students will take U.S. History, a half credit of economics, a half credit of government, and will then be able to choose between world history, world geography, or a new combination for their third credit. For English, students will take English I, II, III and then choose their fourth credit.

The state will also require two foreign language credits. Computer programming may be substituted. In all, the foundation program is made up of four English credits, three math credits, three science credits, three social studies credits, two foreign language credits, one fine arts credit, one PE credit, and five elective credits.

There will be a lot of flexibility for students to make choices in their course selections. This will allow individual strengths and interest to impact their career path that leads to graduation.