Texas Register

TITLE 19 EDUCATION
PART 2TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY
CHAPTER 89ADAPTATIONS FOR SPECIAL POPULATIONS
SUBCHAPTER AACOMMISSIONER'S RULES CONCERNING SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES
DIVISION 2CLARIFICATION OF PROVISIONS IN FEDERAL REGULATIONS AND STATE LAW
RULE §89.1070Graduation Requirements
ISSUE 02/09/2018
ACTION Final/Adopted
Preamble Texas Admin Code Rule

(a)Graduation with a regular high school diploma under subsections (b)(1), (b)(2)(D), (g)(1), (g)(2), (g)(3), or (g)(4)(D) of this section terminates a student's eligibility for special education services under this subchapter and Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and entitlement to the benefits of the Foundation School Program, as provided in Texas Education Code (TEC), §42.003(a).

(b)A student entering Grade 9 in the 2014-2015 school year and thereafter who receives special education services may graduate and be awarded a regular high school diploma if the student meets one of the following conditions.

  (1)The student has demonstrated mastery of the required state standards (or district standards if greater) in Chapters 110-118, 126-128, and 130 of this title and satisfactorily completed credit requirements for graduation under the Foundation High School Program specified in §74.12 of this title (relating to Foundation High School Program) applicable to students in general education as well as satisfactory performance as established in the TEC, Chapter 39, on the required state assessments, unless the student's admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee has determined that satisfactory performance on the required state assessments is not necessary for graduation.

  (2)The student has demonstrated mastery of the required state standards (or district standards if greater) in Chapters 110-118, 126-128, and 130 of this title and satisfactorily completed credit requirements for graduation under the Foundation High School Program specified in §74.12 of this title through courses, one or more of which contain modified curriculum that is aligned to the standards applicable to students in general education, as well as satisfactory performance as established in the TEC, Chapter 39, on the required state assessments, unless the student's ARD committee has determined that satisfactory performance on the required state assessments is not necessary for graduation. The student must also successfully complete the student's individualized education program (IEP) and meet one of the following conditions.

    (A)Consistent with the IEP, the student has obtained full-time employment, based on the student's abilities and local employment opportunities, in addition to mastering sufficient self-help skills to enable the student to maintain the employment without direct and ongoing educational support of the local school district.

    (B)Consistent with the IEP, the student has demonstrated mastery of specific employability skills and self-help skills that do not require direct ongoing educational support of the local school district.

    (C)The student has access to services that 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.

    (D)The student no longer meets age eligibility requirements.

(c)A student receiving special education services may earn an endorsement under §74.13 of this title (relating to Endorsements) if the student:

  (1)satisfactorily completes the requirements for graduation under the Foundation High School Program specified in §74.12 of this title as well as the additional credit requirements in mathematics, science, and elective courses as specified in §74.13(e) of this title with or without modified curriculum;

  (2)satisfactorily completes the courses required for the endorsement under §74.13(f) of this title without any modified curriculum; and

  (3)performs satisfactorily as established in the TEC, Chapter 39, on the required state assessments.

(d)Notwithstanding subsection (c)(3) of this section, a student receiving special education services classified in Grade 11 or 12 who has taken each of the state assessments required by Chapter 101, Subchapter CC, of this title (relating to Commissioner's Rules Concerning Implementation of the Academic Content Areas Testing Program) or Subchapter DD of this title (relating to Commissioner's Rules Concerning Substitute Assessments for Graduation) but failed to achieve satisfactory performance on no more than two of the assessments is eligible to receive an endorsement if the student has met the requirements in subsection (c)(1) and (2) of this section.

(e)In order for a student receiving special education services to use a course to satisfy both a requirement under the Foundation High School Program specified in §74.12 of this title and a requirement for an endorsement under §74.13 of this title, the student must satisfactorily complete the course without any modified curriculum.

(f)A student receiving special education services who entered Grade 9 before the 2014-2015 school year may graduate and be awarded a high school diploma under the Foundation High School Program as provided in §74.1021 of this title (relating to Transition to the Foundation High School Program), if the student's ARD committee determines that the student should take courses under that program and the student satisfies the requirements of that program. Subsections (c) and (d) of this section apply to a student transitioning to the Foundation High School Program under this subsection. As the TEC, §28.0258 and §39.025(a-2), modify the state assessment requirements applicable to students in general education, a student receiving special education services who is classified in Grade 11 or 12 who has taken each of the state assessments required by Chapter 101, Subchapter CC, of this title (relating to Commissioner's Rules Concerning Implementation of the Academic Content Areas Testing Program) or Subchapter DD of this title (relating to Commissioner's Rules Concerning Substitute Assessments for Graduation) but failed to achieve satisfactory performance on no more than two of the assessments may graduate if the student has satisfied all other applicable graduation requirements.

(g)A student receiving special education services who entered Grade 9 before the 2014-2015 school year may graduate and be awarded a regular high school diploma if the student meets one of the following conditions.

  (1)The student has demonstrated mastery of the required state standards (or district standards if greater) in Chapters 110-118, 126-128, and 130 of this title and satisfactorily completed credit requirements for graduation (under the recommended or distinguished achievement high school programs in Chapter 74, Subchapter F, of this title (relating to Graduation Requirements, Beginning with School Year 2007-2008) or Chapter 74, Subchapter G, of this title (relating to Graduation Requirements, Beginning with School Year 2012-2013)), as applicable, including satisfactory performance as established in the TEC, Chapter 39, on the required state assessments.

  (2)Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection, as the TEC, §28.0258 and §39.025(a-2), modify the state assessment requirements applicable to students in general education, a student receiving special education services who is classified in Grade 11 or 12 may graduate under the recommended or distinguished achievement high school program, as applicable, if the student has taken each of the state assessments required by Chapter 101, Subchapter CC, of this title (relating to Commissioner's Rules Concerning Implementation of the Academic Content Areas Testing Program) or Subchapter DD of this title (relating to Commissioner's Rules Concerning Substitute Assessments for Graduation) but failed to achieve satisfactory performance on no more than two of the assessments and has met all other applicable graduation requirements in paragraph (1) of this subsection.

  (3)The student has demonstrated mastery of the required state standards (or district standards if greater) in Chapters 110-118, 126-128, and 130 of this title and satisfactorily completed credit requirements for graduation (under the minimum high school program in Chapter 74, Subchapter F or G, of this title), as applicable, 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.

  (4)The student has demonstrated mastery of the required state standards (or district standards if greater) in Chapters 110-118, 126-128, and 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, Subchapter F or G, of this title, as applicable, as well as the satisfactorily completed 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 IEP and meet one of the following conditions.

    (A)Consistent with the IEP, the student has obtained full-time employment, based on the student's abilities and local employment opportunities, in addition to mastering sufficient self-help skills to enable the student to maintain the employment without direct and ongoing educational support of the local school district.

    (B)Consistent with the IEP, the student has demonstrated mastery of specific employability skills and self-help skills that do not require direct ongoing educational support of the local school district.

    (C)The student has access to services that 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.

    (D)The student no longer meets age eligibility requirements.

(h)All students graduating under this section must be provided with a summary of academic achievement and functional performance as described in 34 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), §300.305(e)(3). This summary must consider, as appropriate, the views of the parent and student and written recommendations from adult service agencies on how to assist the student in meeting postsecondary goals. An evaluation as required by 34 CFR, §300.305(e)(1), must be included as part of the summary for a student graduating under subsections (b)(2)(A), (B), or (C) or (g)(4)(A), (B), or (C) of this section.

(i)Students who participate in graduation ceremonies but who are not graduating under subsections (b)(2)(A), (B), or (C) or (g)(4)(A), (B), or (C) of this section and who will remain in school to complete their education do not have to be evaluated in accordance with subsection (h) of this section.

(j)Employability and self-help skills referenced under subsections (b)(2) and (g)(4) of this section are those skills directly related to the preparation of students for employment, including general skills necessary to obtain or retain employment.

(k)For students who receive a diploma according to subsections (b)(2)(A), (B), or (C) or (g)(4)(A), (B), or (C) of this section, the ARD committee must determine needed educational services upon the request of the student or parent to resume services, as long as the student meets the age eligibility requirements.

(l)For purposes of this section, modified curriculum and modified content refer to any reduction of the amount or complexity of the required knowledge and skills in Chapters 110-118, 126-128, and 130 of this title. Substitutions that are specifically authorized in statute or rule must not be considered modified curriculum or modified content.

The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed the adoption and found it to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on January 26, 2018

TRD-201800360

Cristina De La Fuente-Valadez

Director, Rulemaking

Texas Education Agency

Effective date: February 15, 2018

Proposal publication date: October 20, 2017

For further information, please call: (512) 475-1497



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