1. (a) Graduates of each high school are awarded the same type of diploma. The academic achievement record (transcript), rather than the diploma, records individual accomplishments, achievements, and courses completed and displays appropriate graduation seals.
2. (b) All credit for graduation must be earned no later than Grade 12.
3. (c) To receive a high school diploma, a student entering Grade 9 in the 1998-1999, 1999-2000, or 2000-2001 school years must complete the requirements of the minimum high school program, as specified in subsection (d) of this section; the recommended high school program, as specified in §74.12 of this title (relating to Recommended High School Program); or the distinguished achievement program, as specified in §74.13 of this title (relating to Distinguished Achievement Program--Advanced High School Program); as well as the testing requirements for graduation, as specified in Chapter 101 of this title (relating to Assessment).

4. (d) A student must earn at least 22 credits to complete a minimum high school program. Credit may be awarded without prior instruction under Texas Education Code, §28.023 (Credit by Examination). College Board advanced placement and International Baccalaureate courses may be substituted for requirements in appropriate areas. A student must demonstrate proficiency in the following.

   1. (1) English language arts--four credits. The credits must consist of:

      1. (A) English I, II, and III (English I for Speakers of Other Languages and English II for Speakers of Other Languages may be substituted for English I and II only for immigrant students with limited English proficiency); and
      2. (B) a fourth credit of English, which may be satisfied by English IV, Research/Technical Writing, Creative/Imaginative Writing, Practical Writing Skills, Literary Genres, Business Communication, Journalism, or concurrent enrollment in a college English course.
   2. (2) Mathematics--three credits to include Algebra I.
   3. (3) Science--two credits to include at least one credit from Biology, Chemistry, or Physics. The second credit may be selected from any science course approved by the State Board of Education (SBOE).
   4. (4) Social studies--two and one-half credits. The credits must consist of World History Studies (one credit) or World Geography Studies (one credit), United States History Studies Since Reconstruction (one credit), and United States Government (one-half credit).
   5. (5) Academic elective--one credit. The credit must be selected from World History Studies, World Geography Studies, or any course approved by the SBOE for science credit as found in Chapter 112 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science).
   6. (6) 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.

   7. (7) Physical education--one and one-half credits to include one-half credit in Foundations of Personal Fitness.

      1. (A) The school district board of trustees may allow a student to substitute certain physical activities for the one and one-half required credits of physical education, including the one-half credit of Foundations of Personal Fitness. The substitutions must be based on the physical activity involved in drill team, marching band, and cheerleading during the fall semester; Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC); athletics; Dance I-IV; and two- or three-credit career and technology work-based training courses.
      2. (B) A student may not earn more than two credits in physical education toward state graduation requirements.

      3. (C) In accordance with local district policy, a school district may award up to two credits for physical education for 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.

         1. (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.
         2. (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.
   8. (8) Health education--one-half credit of Health 1 or Advanced Health, or Health Science Technology--one credit.
   9. (9) Speech--one-half credit, which may be satisfied by Communication Applications, Speech Communication, Public Speaking, Debate, or Oral Interpretation.

   10. (10) Technology applications--one credit, which may be satisfied by:

       1. (A) the following courses in Chapter 126 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Technology Applications): Computer Science I, Computer Science II, Desktop Publishing, Digital Graphics/Animation, Multimedia, Video Technology, Web Mastering, or Independent Study in Technology Applications;
       2. (B) the following courses in Chapter 120 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Business Education): Business Computer Information Systems I or II, Business Computer Programming, Telecommunications and Networking, or Business Image Management and Multimedia; or
       3. (C) the following courses in Chapter 123 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Technology Education/Industrial Technology Education): Computer Applications, Technology Systems (modular computer laboratory-based), Communication Graphics (modular computer laboratory-based), or Computer Multimedia and Animation Technology.

   11. (11) Electives--five and one-half credits. The credits must be selected from:

       1. (A) the list of courses approved by the SBOE for Grades 9-12 as specified in §74.1 of this title (relating to Essential Knowledge and Skills);
       2. (B) Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) (one to four credits); or
       3. (C) Driver Education (one-half credit).
5. (e) A maximum of three credits of reading may be offered by districts for state graduation elective credit for identified students under the following conditions. The school district board of trustees shall adopt policies to identify students in need of additional reading instruction, and district procedures shall include assessment of individual student needs, ongoing evaluation of each student's progress, and monitoring of instructional activities to ensure that student needs are addressed. Reading credits may be selected from Reading I, II, or III.
6. (f) An out-of-state or out-of-country transfer student (including foreign exchange students) or a transfer student from a Texas nonpublic school is eligible to receive a Texas diploma but must complete all requirements of this section to satisfy state graduation requirements. Any course credit required in this section that is not completed by the student before he or she enrolls in a Texas school district may be satisfied through the provisions of §74.23 of this title (relating to Correspondence Courses) and §74.24 of this title (relating to Credit by Examination) or by completing the course or courses according to the provisions of §74.26 of this title (relating to the Award of Credit).
7. (g) The requirements for high school graduation for students who enrolled in a high school program during or before the 1997-1998 school year shall remain in effect as adopted by the State Board of Education.
8. (h) Students entering Grade 9 in the 2001-2002 school year and thereafter must complete requirements in Chapter 74, Subchapter D, of this title (relating to Curriculum Requirements).

Source Note:The provisions of this §74.11 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.