HB5 Graduation Plans
Legislation passed in 2013 (called “House Bill 5” or “HB5”) made significant changes to high school graduation requirements, replacing the Minimum, Recommended, and Distinguished Achievement graduation plans with one Foundation program, on top of which students can earn endorsements and a “Distinguished Level of Achievement.” Texas Education Agency (TEA) maintains a website full of useful information.
TEA has provided a 2016 Graduation Toolkit (Manual de Herramientas 2016) to help students, parents and school staff to work through graduation plans. THe state law explaining the overview of the graduation requirements can be found here: Texas Graduation Requirements.
THE FOUNDATION PLAN
To earn a Texas high school certificate, students will need to graduate by fulfilling the requirements of the Foundation Plan. However, all Texas Empowerment high school students are put on track to graduate with more requirements than the foundation plan (i.e. an endorsement).
ENDORSEMENTS
Texas Empowerment Academy offers the Multidisciplinary Studies endorsement to its high school students. Texas Empowerment Academy are put on all students on track to graduate with an endorsement, as there are numerous benefits to graduating with endorsement.
DISTINGUISHED LEVEL OF ACHIEVEMENT
In addition to the Foundation Plan and Endorsements, Texas Empowerment high school students are put on track to graduate with a Distinguished Level of Achievement. A student may earn a distinguished level of achievement by completing four credits in mathematics, four credits in science, the remaining curriculum requirements and the curriculum endorsements for at least one of the five areas.
PERFORMANCE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
In addition to the Foundation Plan, Endorsements and the Distinguished Level of Achievement, a student can earn Performance Acknowledgements. Students may earn an additional acknowledgment on their diploma because of outstanding performance in areas such as dual credit courses, PSAT, ACT’s Plan, or the SAT or ACT exams.
STATE TESTING GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Along with any of the graduation plans, students are required to earn a Level II: Satisfactory Performance on each of 5 End-of-Course (EOC) exams – Algebra I, Biology, English I, English II and US History. Students who earn high school credit through correspondence course or dual enrollment at Austin Community College (ACC) are still required to pass the corresponding EOC.
CPR TRAINING GRADUATION REQUIREMENT
According to TAC Chapter 74 Rule 74.38, in order to graduate and receive a high school diploma, a student must receive mandatory CPR training. A student can be exempted from receiving this instruction when the student provides proof of receiving similar CPR instruction from an outside source.
SPEECH GRADUATION REQUIREMENT
To receive a high school diploma, a student must demonstrate proficiency, as determined by the district in which the student is enrolled, in the following:
• Delivering clear verbal messages
• Choosing effective nonverbal behaviors
• Listening for desired results
• Applying valid critical-thinking and problem-solving processes
• Identifying, analyzing, developing, and evaluating communication skills needed for professional and social success in interpersonal situations, group interactions, and personal and professional presentations
Texas Empowerment instructs students in these skills in Communication Applications or SPCH 1315 (at ACC). A student graduating from Texas Empowerment will be required to take one of these courses if he/she has not earned the speech graduation requirement elsewhere.
PROPER INTERACTION WITH PEACE OFFICERS
Starting with the freshman class of 2018-19, according to TAC Chapter 74 Rule 74.39, in order to graduate and receive a high school diploma, a student must receive mandatory instruction on proper interaction with Peace Officers.
Contact Us
Location
3613 Bluestein Dr.
Austin, TX 78721
Phone
(512) 494-1076 tel
512.494.1009 fax
Schedule
Early Drop Off: 7:15am
Classes Begin: 8:30am
Lunch: 12pm
Classes End: 3:15pm
After School: 4pm – 6pm