| (a) Credits. A student must earn at least 26 credits
to complete the Distinguished Achievement High School Program.
(b) Core Courses. A student must demonstrate proficiency
in the following:
(1) English language arts--four credits. The credits
must consist of English I, II, III, and IV (Students with limited
English proficiency who are at the beginning or intermediate level
of English language proficiency, as defined by §74.4(d) of this
title (relating to English Language Proficiency Standards), may satisfy
the English I and English II graduation requirements by successfully
completing English I for Speakers of Other Languages and English II
for Speakers of Other Languages).
(2) Mathematics--four credits. Three of the credits
must consist of Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry.
(A) The fourth credit may be selected from the following
courses after successful completion of Algebra I, Algebra II, and
Geometry:
(i) Precalculus;
(ii) Independent Study in Mathematics;
(iii) Advanced Placement (AP) Statistics;
(iv) AP Calculus AB;
(v) AP Calculus BC;
(vi) AP Computer Science;
(vii) International Baccalaureate (IB) Mathematical
Studies Standard Level;
(viii) IB Mathematics Standard Level;
(ix) IB Mathematics Higher Level;
(x) IB Further Mathematics Standard Level;
(xi) Robotics Programming and Design;
(xii) Discrete Mathematics for Problem Solving;
(xiii) Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science; and
(xiv) pursuant to the Texas Education Code (TEC), §28.025(b-5),
a mathematics course endorsed by an institution of higher education
as a course for which the institution would award course credit or
as a prerequisite for a course for which the institution would award
course credit. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) shall maintain a current
list of courses approved under this clause.
(B) The additional credit may be selected from the
following courses and may be taken after the successful completion
of Algebra I and Geometry and either after the successful completion
of or concurrently with Algebra II:
(i) Engineering Mathematics;
(ii) Statistics and Risk Management; and
(iii) Digital Electronics.
(3) Science--four credits. Three of the credits must
consist of a biology credit (Biology, AP Biology, or IB Biology),
a chemistry credit (Chemistry, AP Chemistry, or IB Chemistry), and
a physics credit (Physics, AP Physics, or IB Physics).
(A) The fourth credit may be selected from the following
laboratory-based courses:
(i) Aquatic Science;
(ii) Astronomy;
(iii) Earth and Space Science;
(iv) Environmental Systems;
(v) AP Biology;
(vi) AP Chemistry;
(vii) AP Physics B;
(viii) AP Physics C;
(ix) AP Environmental Science;
(x) IB Biology;
(xi) IB Chemistry;
(xii) IB Physics;
(xiii) IB Environmental Systems; and
(xiv) pursuant to the TEC, §28.025(b-5), a science
course endorsed by an institution of higher education as a course
for which the institution would award course credit or as a prerequisite
for a course for which the institution would award course credit.
The TEA shall maintain a current list of courses approved under this
clause.
(B) The additional credit may be selected from the
following laboratory-based courses and may be taken after the successful
completion of biology and chemistry and either after the successful
completion of or concurrently with physics:
(i) Scientific Research and Design;
(ii) Anatomy and Physiology;
(iii) Engineering Design and Problem Solving;
(iv) Medical Microbiology;
(v) Pathophysiology;
(vi) Advanced Animal Science;
(vii) Advanced Biotechnology;
(viii) Advanced Plant and Soil Science;
(ix) Food Science;
(x) Forensic Science; and
(xi) Principles of Engineering.
(4) Social studies--three and one-half credits. The
credits must consist of World History Studies (one credit), World
Geography Studies (one credit), United States History Studies Since
Reconstruction (one credit), and United States Government (one-half
credit).
(5) Economics, with emphasis on the free enterprise
system and its benefits--one-half credit. The credit must consist
of Economics with Emphasis on the Free Enterprise System and Its Benefits.
(6) Languages other than English--three credits. The
credits must consist of any three levels in the same language.
(7) Physical education--one credit.
(A) The required credit may be from any combination
of the following one-half to one credit courses:
(i) Foundations of Personal Fitness;
(ii) Adventure/Outdoor Education;
(iii) Aerobic Activities; and
(iv) Team or Individual Sports.
(B) In accordance with local district policy, credit
for any of the courses listed in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph
may be earned through participation in the following activities:
(i) Athletics;
(ii) Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC);
and
(iii) appropriate private or commercially-sponsored
physical activity programs conducted on or off campus. The district
must apply to the commissioner of education for approval of such programs,
which may be substituted for state graduation credit in physical education.
Such approval may be granted under the following conditions.
(I) Olympic-level participation and/or competition
includes a minimum of 15 hours per week of highly intensive, professional,
supervised training. The training facility, instructors, and the activities
involved in the program must be certified by the superintendent to
be of exceptional quality. Students qualifying and participating at
this level may be dismissed from school one hour per day. Students
dismissed may not miss any class other than physical education.
(II) Private or commercially-sponsored physical activities
include those certified by the superintendent to be of high quality
and well supervised by appropriately trained instructors. Student
participation of at least five hours per week must be required. Students
certified to participate at this level may not be dismissed from any
part of the regular school day.
(C) In accordance with local district policy, up to
one credit for any one of the courses listed in subparagraph (A) of
this paragraph may be earned through participation in any of the following
activities:
(i) Drill Team;
(ii) Marching Band; and
(iii) Cheerleading.
(D) All substitution activities allowed in subparagraphs
(B) and (C) of this paragraph must include at least 100 minutes per
five-day school week of moderate to vigorous physical activity.
(E) Credit may not be earned for any course identified
in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph more than once. No more than
four substitution credits may be earned through any combination of
substitutions allowed in subparagraphs (B) and (C) of this paragraph.
(F) If a student is unable to comply with all of the
requirements for a physical education course due to a physical limitation
certified by a licensed medical practitioner, a modification to a
physical education course does not prohibit the student from earning
a Distinguished Achievement Program diploma. A student with a physical
limitation must still demonstrate proficiency in the relevant knowledge
and skills in a physical education course that do not require physical
activity.
(8) Speech--one-half credit. The credit may be selected
from the following courses:
(A) Communication Applications; and
(B) Professional Communications.
(9) Fine arts--one credit. The credit may be selected
from the following courses:
(A) Art, Level I, II, III, or IV;
(B) Dance, Level I, II, III, or IV;
(C) Music, Level I, II, III, or IV;
(D) Theatre, Level I, II, III, or IV; and
(E) Principles and Elements of Floral Design.
(c) Elective Courses--four and one-half credits. The
credits may be selected from the list of courses specified in §74.61(j)
of this title (relating to High School Graduation Requirements). All
students who wish to complete the Distinguished Achievement High School
Program are encouraged to study each of the four foundation curriculum
areas (English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies)
every year in high school.
(d) Advanced measures. A student also must achieve
any combination of four of the following advanced measures. Original
research/projects may not be used for more than two of the four advanced
measures. The measures must focus on demonstrated student performance
at the college or professional level. Student performance on advanced
measures must be assessed through an external review process. The
student may choose from the following options:
(1) original research/project that is:
(A) judged by a panel of professionals in the field
that is the focus of the project; or
(B) conducted under the direction of mentor(s) and
reported to an appropriate audience; and
(C) related to the required curriculum set forth in §74.1
of this title (relating to Essential Knowledge and Skills);
(2) test data where a student receives:
(A) a score of three or above on the College Board
advanced placement examination;
(B) a score of four or above on an International Baccalaureate
examination; or
(C) a score on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship
Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) that qualifies the student for recognition
as a commended scholar or higher by the College Board and National
Merit Scholarship Corporation, as part of the National Hispanic Recognition
Program (NHRP) of the College Board or as part of the National Achievement
Scholarship Program of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
The PSAT/NMSQT score shall count as only one advanced measure regardless
of the number of honors received by the student; or
(3) college academic courses, including those taken
for dual credit, and advanced technical credit courses, including
locally articulated courses, with a grade of 3.0 or higher.
(e) Substitutions. No substitutions are allowed in
the Distinguished Achievement High School Program, except as specified
in this chapter.
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| Source Note: The provisions of this §74.64 adopted to be effective September 1, 2005, 29 TexReg 9357; amended to be effective January 9, 2007, 32 TexReg 80; amended to be effective August 23, 2010, 35 TexReg 5543; amended to be effective August 25, 2013, 38 TexReg 5469; amended to be effective August 25, 2014, 39 TexReg 639 |
