AWARD OF CREDIT
The award of credit for a course affirms that a student has satisfactorily met state and local requirements. 19 TAC 74.26(a)
Credit for courses for high school graduation may be earned only if the student received a grade equivalent to 70 on a scale of 100, based upon the essential knowledge and skills of each course. Credit earned toward state graduation requirements by a student in an accredited school district shall be transferable and accepted by any other school district in the state. 19 TAC 74.26(a)(1), (c)
Early Award of Credit
The School may offer courses designated for grades 9-12 in earlier grade levels. Credit must be awarded if the student has demonstrated achievement by meeting the standard requirements of the course, including demonstrated proficiency in the subject matter, regardless of the time the student received instruction in the course or the grade level at which proficiency was attained. The academic achievement record (transcript) shall reflect that students have satisfactorily completed courses at earlier grade levels from grades 9-12 and have been awarded state graduation credits. 19 TAC 74.26(b)
Partial Award
TSBVI has the discretion to award credit proportionately to a student who is able to successfully complete only one semester of a two-semester course. 19 TAC 74.26(d)
TSBVI shall award credit proportionately to a student who is homeless or in substitute care who successfully completes only one semester of a two-semester course. 19 TAC 74.26(e)
Attendance for Credit or Final Grade
Unless credit is awarded by the attendance committee or regained in accordance with a principal’s plan [see FEC], a student may not be given credit for a class unless the student is in attendance for at least 90 percent of the days the class is offered. Education Code 25.092
Advanced Courses
The following are considered “advanced courses” for the purposes of this policy:
- English Language Arts: All College Board advanced placement courses and International Baccalaureate courses in the discipline and high school/college concurrent enrollment classes that are included in the Community College General Academic Course Guide Manual (Part One);
- Fine Arts: All College Board advanced placement courses and International Baccalaureate courses in the discipline, high school/college concurrent enrollment classes that are included in the Community College General Academic Course Guide Manual (Part One), Dance IV (not to include drill team activities), Art IV, Music IV, and Theatre IV;
- Languages other than English: All College Board advanced placement courses and International Baccalaureate courses in the discipline and high school/college concurrent enrollment classes that are included in the Community College General Academic Course Guide Manual (Part One), and languages other than English courses Levels IV-VII;
- Mathematics: All College Board advanced placement courses and International Baccalaureate courses in the discipline, high school/college concurrent enrollment classes that are included in the Community College General Academic Course Guide Manual (Part One), and Precalculus;
- Science: All College Board advanced placement courses and International Baccalaureate courses in the discipline, and high school/college concurrent enrollment classes that are included in the Community College General Academic Course Guide Manual (Part One); and
Social Studies: Social Studies Advanced Studies, Economics Advanced Studies, all College Board advanced placement courses and International Baccalaureate courses in the discipline and high school/college concurrent enrollment classes that are included in the Community College General Academic Course Guide Manual (Part One).
The School may identify additional advanced courses, but must do so before the semester in which any exemptions related to extracurricular activities occur.
19 TAC 74.30
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS – SPECIAL EDUCATION
The ARD committee determines the graduation requirements for each student as defined in 19 TAC 89.1070 including consideration of the student’s Expanded Core Curriculum and transition needs. Transition services may be provided until a student meets age limitations, or sooner if transition needs are met.
The School shall cooperate with public and private agencies and organizations serving students and other persons with visual impairments in the planning, development, and implementation of effective educational and rehabilitative service delivery systems associated with educating students with visual impairments. To maximize and make efficient use of state facilities, funding, and resources, the services provided in this area may include conducting a cooperative program with other agencies to serve students who have graduated from high school by completing all academic requirements applicable to students in regular education, excluding satisfactory performance under Section 39.025, who are younger than 22 years of age on September 1 of the school year and who have identified needs related to vocational training, independent living skills orientation and mobility, social and leisure skills, compensatory skills, or remedial academic skills.
Education Code 30.021; 19 TAC 89.1070
Termination of Eligibility
- Graduation with a regular high school diploma under subsection B.1, 2, or 4 of this section may terminate a student’s eligibility for special education services under this subchapter and Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), 20 United States Code, §§1400 et seq. In addition, as provided in Texas Education Code, §42.003(a), graduation with a regular high school diploma under subsection B. 1, 2, or 4 of this section may terminate a student’s entitlement to the benefits of the Foundation School Program.
- A student receiving special education services may graduate and be awarded a regular high school diploma if the student meets one of the following conditions:
Completed Regular State Standards for Recommended or Distinguished Programs or Foundation Graduation Program with Endorsements
- The student has satisfactorily completed the state’s or district’s (whichever is greater) required standards in Chapters 110-128 and Chapter 130 of this title and credit requirements for graduation (under the recommended or distinguished achievement high school programs in Chapter 74 of this title (relating to Curriculum Requirements)) applicable to students in general education, including satisfactory performance as established in the TEC, Chapter 39, on the required state assessments.
Completed State Standards for Minimum Program or Foundation Graduation Program
- The student has satisfactorily completed the state’s or district’s (whichever is greater) required standards in Chapters 110-128 and Chapter 130 of this title and credit requirements for graduation (under the minimum high school program in Chapter 74 of this title) applicable to students in general education, including participation in required state assessments. The student’s admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee will determine whether satisfactory performance on the required state assessments is necessary for graduation.
Completed IEP Requirements and Modified State Standards for Minimum Program or Foundation Graduation Program
- The student has satisfactorily completed the state’s or district’s (whichever is greater) required standards in Chapters 110-128 and Chapter 130 of this title through courses, one or more of which contain modified content that is aligned to the standards required under the minimum high school program in Chapter 74 of this title as well as the credit requirements under the minimum high school program, including participation in required state assessments. The student’s ARD committee will determine whether satisfactory performance on the required state assessments is necessary for graduation. The student graduating under this subsection must also successfully complete the student’s individualized education program (IEP) and meet one of the following conditions, consistent with the IEP:
- full-time employment, based on the student’s abilities and local employment opportunities, in addition to sufficient self-help skills to enable the student to maintain the employment without direct and ongoing educational support of the local school district;
- demonstrated mastery of specific employability skills and self-help skills which do not require direct ongoing educational support of the local school district; or
- access to services which are not within the legal responsibility of public education or employment or educational options for which the student has been prepared by the academic program.
Completed IEP and Ages Out
- The student no longer meets age eligibility requirements and has completed the requirements specified in the IEP by age 22.
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT RECORD
Following guidelines developed by the commissioner of education, TSBVI shall use the academic achievement record (transcript) form that includes demographics, school data, student data, and the record of courses and credits earned. This form shall serve as the academic record for each student and shall be maintained permanently by the School.
Any credit earned by a student must be recorded on the academic achievement record, regardless of when the credit was earned. A student’s performance on a state assessment, including an end-of-course assessment instrument required under Education Code 39.023(c) [see EKB] must be included in the student’s academic achievement record.
Copies of the record shall be made available to students transferring from the School. The information may be provided to the student or to the district to which the student is transferring, or both. The School shall respond promptly to all requests for student records from receiving districts. [See also FD, and FL]
Education Code 28.025(e); 39.023(c-5); 19 TAC 74.5(b)-(d), 26(a)
TRANSCRIPT SEALS
Students who complete high school graduation requirements shall have attached to the academic achievement record the seal approved by the State Board of Education. 19 TAC 74.5(e)
Endorsement
Students who complete the requirements for an endorsement shall have the endorsement clearly indicated on the academic achievement record (transcript).
Performance Acknowledgment
Students who earn a performance acknowledgement shall have the performance acknowledgment clearly indicated on the academic achievement record (transcript).
Distinguished Level of Achievement
Students who earn the distinguished level of achievement shall have the distinguished level of achievement clearly indicated on the academic achievement record (transcript).
Education Code 28.025(e-1); 19 TAC 74.5(f)-(h), .11(b)
Speech Requirements
Students who demonstrate proficiency in speech as specified in 19 Administrative Code 74.11 shall have completion of the speech requirement clearly indicated on the academic achievement record (transcript).
CPR
Students who complete the required physical education instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as specified in 19 Administrative Code 74.38 in grade 9, 10, 11, or 12 shall have completion of the CPR instruction clearly indicated on the academic achievement record (transcript).
Proper Interaction with Peace Officers
Students who complete the required government class instruction on proper interaction with peace officers shall have completion of the instruction clearly indicated on the academic achievement record (transcript). TSBVI shall clearly indicate on the academic achievement record the year in which the instruction was provided to the student.
Notation on Transcript or Diploma
TSBVI shall ensure that each student’s official transcript or diploma indicates whether the student has completed or is on schedule to complete the recommended or minimum high school curriculum or Foundation Graduation Program.
TSBVI must include this information on the student’s transcript not later than the end of the student’s junior year.
Education Code 56.308
Certificate of Coursework Completion
A student who completes all graduation requirements except for required end-of-course assessments may be issued a certificate of coursework completion. The academic achievement record (transcript) shall include a notation of the date a certificate of completion was issued to the student.
Education Code 28.025(d); 19 TAC 74.5(i)
Adopted: 9/21/84
Amended: 10/25/85, 1/23/87, 1/26/90, 9/27/90, 5/26/94, 11/15/96, 4/1/05, 1/26/07, 6/5/13, 8/9/19
Reviewed: