Laurie Posner, MPA, IDRA

Austin • February 10, 2016

Graduation Plan Changes: Briefing

Texas Students

• 5 million+ students

• Enrollment grew 20% in decade

• 60.1% economically disadvantaged

Hispanic (51.8%), White (29.5%), African American (12.7%), Asian (3.7%), and multiracial (1.9%)

17.5% are English language learners

Source: Texas Education Agency, 2014

“The child population is projected to

increase by 42 percent between

2010 and 2050.” – Rogelio Sáenz, The Impact of Education on

Economic Development in Texas, 2014

“I want to be looked at as a community leader. I get very excited when we take college tours because I am now looking at a teaching career.”

- Agustina García, 7th Grade, Dr. Javier Saenz Middle School, La Joya

ISD, Texas

“My mother told me she

was so proud of me...” - Christian Ortiz 7th grade, Domingo

Treviño Middle School, La Joya, Texas

“I was starting to think

of what would happen

if I didn’t get my high

school diploma or if I

didn’t get enough

credits. What type of

job or college would I

get into?” - Lanala Hayes

9th Grade, Phillis Wheatley

- High School , Houston“When I see a smile from my

tutees, it gives me the sign that I

am a great person as a role

model and as a growing man.” - Kwame Weatherall, Ninth grade,

- Lee High School , Houston ISD

Student Aspirations

These students participated in the IDRA Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program: http://bit.ly/Coca-ColaVYP

Statewide Goals for Post-Secondary Enrollment and Success

Texas Higher Education Strategic Plan: 2015–2030

New Graduation Plan Changes

• Signed into law June 2013, rules adopted by

SBOE on January 31, 2014

• Foundation High School Program plus

Endorsement replaces Minimum High School

Program (MHSP), Recommended High

School Program (RHSP), Distinguished

Achievement Program (DAP).

• Transition:

• In 2013-14, students in grades 9, 10, or 11 could

choose to graduate on existing or new plan.

• In 2014-15, new requirements implemented for

all students entering grade 9

• Evaluation: TEA, in collaboration with the

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

(THECB) and the Texas Workforce

Commission (TWC) to conduct an evaluation

– with reports due December 1, 2015 and

December 1, 2017.

• Evaluating implementation of HB5 on

curriculum and testing requirements

• Estimating effect of changes HB 5 made to

curriculum and testing requirements on high

graduation rates, college readiness, college

admissions, college completion, obtainment

of workforce certificates, employment rates

and earnings.

• AIR HB5 Evaluation Report (December,

2105) available online and some findings are

referenced in this briefing. For more

complete details and context, participants

are encouraged to visit the full report,

published on Texas Education Agency

Website

Prior Texas Graduation Plans

2004-05

RHSP established as default for all students

(strengthened approach to college and career readiness)

Recommended Plan:

24 credits

3 credits math

3 credits science

2007-08

4x4 incorporated into RHSP and DAP

(default plan meets admissions requirements for most universities

and colleges)

Recommended Plan:

26 credits

4 credits math

4 credits science

Foundation Plan, Endorsements, and Distinguished Achievement

Progress Prior to Graduation Plan Changes

Source: http://budurl.com/IDRAattrtn

Endorsement Offering Patterns

• Some districts/areas opted for

Distinguished as Default

• Most districts based new offerings on

• current course offerings (97.5%)

• staff capacity (96.9%) (AIR Evaluation,

2015)

• No additional allocation

College Bound and Determined website: http://budurl.com/IDRAcbdw

Implementation: Endorsement Offerings

Districts can offer 1-5 endorsements but

if offering only one it must be in

multidisciplinary studies.

Multidisciplinary studies was most

frequently offered (95.5% of districts);

public services was the least frequently

offered, with 61.9% offering the

endorsement.

Majority of districts report meeting

directly with parents (94%) and

communication through guidance

counselors (92%) (AIR Evaluation, 2015)

Source: AIR Evaluation, 2015

95.50%86.50% 86.20%

79.10%

61.90%

2014-15 Endorsements

My sister attends the same high

school I did, and she will graduate

with enough college hours for a

minor in Spanish. I think

everybody can go to college.

Whatever your family’s social and

economic situation, college is

doable.” – Pedro Nepomuceno, Graduate of

the PSJA ISD and a current student at

the University of Texas Health Science

Nursing School

College Students Describe What a School’s College-Going Culture Really Means: http://bit.ly/IDRAnlND15c

Intercultural Development Research Association Dr. María “Cuca” Robledo Montecel, President & CEO

5815 Callaghan Road, Suite 101

San Antonio, Texas 78228

210-444-1710 • contact@idra.org

www.idra.org

Ensuring that educational opportunity and success

for all students are guaranteed