EI(LEGAL) - ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

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)

Early Award of Credit

A district 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

In accordance with a district's local policy, a student who is able to successfully complete only half of a course can be awarded credit proportionately. 19 TAC 74.26(d)

A district shall award credit proportionately to a student who is homeless or in substitute care who successfully completes only half of a 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 in any grade level from kindergarten through grade 12 may not be given credit or a final grade 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

Homeless or Substitute Care

Each district must adopt a local policy to assist with awarding to a student who is homeless or in substitute care credit for a course that was earned prior to the student enrolling in or transferring to the district, as required by 19 Administrative Code 74.26 (Award of Credit).

Each district must examine how credit is awarded based on satisfactorily meeting all state and local requirements for a course upon enrollment, as required by 19 Administrative Code 74.26. [For information on credit by exam for students who are homeless or in substitute care, see EHDC].

Each district must:

  1. Develop a credit recovery plan for students who were denied credits outside the district;
  2. Create a course transition plan for students who have been denied credit;
  3. Develop and administer a personal graduation plan for each student in junior high or middle school, as required by Education Code 28.0212 [see EIF];
  4. Ensure that school staff engage with the student, parent, or guardian, as applicable, to develop a credit recovery plan upon enrollment if the student has a credit deficit that would impede on-time promotion or graduation; and
  5. Comply with Education Code 28.025(i), concerning the award of diplomas for students who are homeless or in substitute care who are in grade 11 or 12.

19 TAC 89.1607(a), (d)–(e)

[For information on transition assistance for students who are homeless or in substitute care, including enrollment and placement in education programs and courses, see FFC.]

Graduation Requirements

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 in an accredited school district shall be transferable and must be accepted by any other school district in the state. 19 TAC 74.26(a)(1), (c)

Academic Achievement Record

Following guidelines developed by the commissioner of education, a district shall use an academic achievement record (transcript) form that includes student demographics, school data, student data, and the record of courses and credits earned.

The academic achievement record (transcript) shall serve as the academic record for each student and shall be maintained permanently by a district.

Any credit earned by a student must be recorded on the academic achievement record (transcript), 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 (transcript).

Copies of the record shall be made available to students transferring to another district. A district shall respond promptly to all requests for student records from receiving districts. [See also FD, FDA, and FL]

Education Code 28.025(e), 39.023(c-5); 19 TAC 74.5(b)–(d)

Transcript Seals

Students who complete high school graduation requirements shall have attached to the academic achievement record (transcript) a 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 acknowledgment 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).

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 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 instruction on proper interaction with peace officers shall have completion of the instruction clearly indicated on the academic achievement record (transcript). A district shall clearly indicate on the academic achievement record the year in which the instruction was provided to the student.

Languages Other Than English

Students who satisfy a language other than English graduation credit requirement by successfully completing a dual language immersion program at an elementary school in accordance with 19 Administrative Code 74.12 shall have the credit clearly indicated on the academic achievement record (transcript).

Education Code 28.025; 19 TAC 74.5(f)–(l), .11(b); 19 TAC 74.39(e)

Notation on Transcript or Diploma

A district shall ensure that each student's official transcript or diploma indicates whether the student has completed or is on schedule to complete:

  1. The recommended or advanced high school curriculum; or
  2. For a district that is covered by Education Code 56.304(f)(1) (unavailability of courses), the required portion of the recommended or advanced high school curriculum offered at the district's high school.

The district 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 assessment instruments 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. [See FMH for participation in the graduation ceremony.] 19 TAC 74.5(m)

Early High School Graduation Scholarship Program

For purposes of the Early High School Graduation Scholarship Program, a student who does not satisfy the curriculum requirements for a recommended or advanced high school program is considered to have satisfied those requirements if the high school from which the student graduated indicates on the student's transcript that the student was unable to complete the appropriate curriculum within the time prescribed solely because of a reason beyond the student's control, such as lack of enrollment capacity or a shortage of qualified teachers. Education Code 56.203(d)

Ennis ISD

EI(LEGAL)-P

UPDATE 115

DATE ISSUED: 7/13/2020