1. (a) Middle Grades 6-8. A school district that offers Grades 6-8 must provide instruction in the required curriculum as specified in §74.1 of this title (relating to Essential Knowledge and Skills). The district must ensure that sufficient time is provided for teachers to teach and for students to learn English language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, fine arts, health, physical education, technology applications, and to the extent possible, languages other than English. The school district may provide instruction in a variety of arrangements and settings, including mixed-age programs designed to permit flexible learning arrangements for developmentally appropriate instruction for all student populations to support student attainment of course and grade level standards.

2. (b) Secondary Grades 9-12.

   1. (1) A school district that offers Grades 9-12 must provide instruction in the required curriculum as specified in §74.1 of this title (relating to Essential Knowledge and Skills). The district must ensure that sufficient time is provided for teachers to teach and for students to learn the subjects in the required curriculum. The school district may provide instruction in a variety of arrangements and settings, including mixed-age programs designed to permit flexible learning arrangements for developmentally appropriate instruction for all student populations to support student attainment of course and grade level standards.

   2. (2) The school district must offer the courses listed in this paragraph and maintain evidence that students have the opportunity to take these courses:

      1. (A) English language arts--English I, II, III, and IV;
      2. (B) mathematics--Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Precalculus, and Mathematical Models with Applications;
      3. (C) science--Integrated Physics and Chemistry, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Science courses shall include at least 40% hands-on laboratory investigations and field work using appropriate scientific inquiry;
      4. (D) social studies--United States History Studies Since Reconstruction, World History Studies, United States Government, and World Geography Studies;
      5. (E) economics, with emphasis on the free enterprise system and its benefits--Economics with Emphasis on the Free Enterprise System and Its Benefits;
      6. (F) physical education--Foundations of Personal Fitness and at least two courses selected from Adventure/Outdoor Education; Aerobic Activities; Individual Sports; or Team Sports;
      7. (G) health education--Health 1;
      8. (H) fine arts--courses selected from at least two of the four fine arts areas (art, music, theatre, and dance)--Art I, II, III, IV; Music I, II, III, IV; Theatre I, II, III, IV; or Dance I, II, III, IV;
      9. (I) career and technology education--courses selected from at least three of the eight career and technology areas (agricultural science and technology education, business education, career orientation, health science technology education, family and consumer sciences education/home economics education, technology education/industrial technology education, marketing education, and trade and industrial education) taught on a campus in the school district with provisions for contracting for additional offerings with programs or institutions as may be practical;
      10. (J) languages other than English--Levels I, II, and III or higher of the same language;
      11. (K) technology applications--at least four courses selected from Computer Science I, Computer Science II, Desktop Publishing, Digital Graphics/Animation, Multimedia, Video Technology, Web Mastering, or Independent Study in Technology Applications; and
      12. (L) speech--Communication Applications.
   3. (3) Districts may offer additional courses from the complete list of courses approved by the State Board of Education to satisfy graduation requirements as referenced in this chapter.
   4. (4) The school district must provide each student the opportunity to participate in all courses listed in subsection (b)(2) of this section. The district must provide students the opportunity each year to select courses in which they intend to participate from a list that includes all courses required to be offered in subsection (b)(2) of this section. If the school district will not offer the required courses every year, but intends to offer particular courses only every other year, it must notify all enrolled students of that fact. The school district must teach a course in which ten or more students indicate they will participate or that is required for a student to graduate. For a course in which fewer than ten students indicate they will participate, the district must either teach the course or employ options described in Subchapter C of this chapter (relating to Other Provisions) to provide the course and must maintain evidence that it is employing those options.
   5. (5) For students entering Grade 9 beginning with the 2007-2008 school year, districts must ensure that one or more courses offered in the required curriculum for the recommended and advanced high school programs include a research writing component.
3. (c) Courses in the foundation and enrichment curriculum in Grades 6-12 must be provided in a manner that allows all grade promotion and high school graduation requirements to be met in a timely manner. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require a district to offer a specific course in the foundation and enrichment curriculum except as required by this subsection.
4. (d) Notwithstanding any other graduation requirements in this chapter, a student is required to complete one credit in physical education to satisfy the graduation requirements under the recommended high school program. A student is also not required to complete one-half credit of health or one credit of technology applications to satisfy the graduation requirements under the recommended high school program. A student entering Grade 9 in the 2010-2011 school year and thereafter and who opts into the minimum high school program must complete one fine arts credit to satisfy the graduation requirements.

Source Note:The provisions of this §74.3 adopted to be effective September 1, 1996, 21 TexReg 4311; amended to be effective October 13, 1997, 22 TexReg 10129; amended to be effective September 1, 1998, 23 TexReg 5675; amended to be effective September 1, 2001, 25 TexReg 7691; amended to be effective October 3, 2004, 29 TexReg 9185; amended to be effective January 9, 2007, 32 TexReg 80; amended to be effective December 23, 2009, 34 TexReg 9198.