Region 7 September 16, 2010

2 A Tale of Two Sciences Why People are Confused Students who enter Grade 9 in will no longer be able to take IPC as one of the four science courses required for graduation. At this time there are no plans to remove IPC completely from the course offerings. Therefore, beginning in students working toward graduating under the DAP would only be able to use an IPC credit as an academic elective and beginning in students working toward graduating under the RHSP would also only be able to use an IPC credit as an academic elective. FAQ * Changes to Graduation Requirements for the RHSP and the DAP Updated November 30, 2007 Total Phase Out of IPC for RHSP and DAP *Freshman in are now your seniors

3 A Tale of Two Sciences Why People are Confused Under the RHSP, students must take biology; a choice of two courses from a list of options that includes IPC (through ); and then a fourth science course. FAQ * Changes to Graduation Requirements for the RHSP and the DAP Updated November 30, 2007 No longer applies! *Freshman in are now your seniors

4 A Tale of Two Sciences Why People are Confused For students graduating under the RHSP, IPC cannot be taken as the final or fourth year of science and must be taken before the senior year of high school. FAQ * Changes to Graduation Requirements for the RHSP and the DAP Updated November 30, 2007 No longer applies! *Freshman in are now your seniors

5 A Tale of Two Sciences Why People are Confused Under the DAP, students must take biology, chemistry and physics and then a fourth science course. IPC and Principals of Technology I may not be taken to fulfill the four credits of science requirements under the DAP. FAQ * Changes to Graduation Requirements for the RHSP and the DAP Updated November 30, 2007 Still True! *Freshman in are now your seniors

Graduation Credit Requirements Side X Side Science RHSP Four credits: Biology, AP Biology, or IB Biology Chemistry, AP Chemistry, or IB Chemistry Physics, Principles of Technology, AP Physics, or IB Physics The additional credit may be IPC and must be successfully completed prior to chemistry and physics.

State Board of Education Graduation Requirements FAQ– Volume One Science RHSP A student may take IPC as one of the four science credits on the RHSP if IPC is successfully completed prior to chemistry and physics. IPC may not count as one of the four science credits on the DAP.

State Board of Education Graduation Requirements FAQ– Volume One Science If a student on the RHSP takes IPC in or later, the student will need to successfully complete credits in chemistry and physics after successful completion of IPC in order for IPC to count as a science credit.

State Board of Education Graduation Requirements FAQ– Volume One Science High school graduation requirements successfully completed prior to the school year shall count toward graduation in the manner established at the time the credit was earned. Consequently, a student who successfully completed IPC and chemistry prior to the school year has satisfied the requirement that a student complete two out of the three courses (IPC, chemistry and/or physics).

State Board of Education Graduation Requirements FAQ– Volume One Science A student on the RHSP may take biology, IPC, chemistry and then Principles of Technology to satisfy the four science credit requirement.

11 TEA Correspondence January 25, 2010 TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED: The phase-out of Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC) was removed allowing students on the RHSP to continue to take IPC as one of the science credits if IPC is successfully completed prior to chemistry and physics. Students on the RHSP must complete a biology credit, a chemistry credit, and a physics credit.

12 At what point does Chapter 74, Subchapter F actually take effect. In other words, which graduating class(es) must take the biology, chemistry, and physics classes as outlined in the law? Do this year’s juniors still fall under the “grandfather clause” interpretation? Sophomores? The rule has been biology, chemistry, and physics. IPC was a “bridge option” that was going to be phased out next year. The State Board removed the phase out language. Therefore, if a student completes IPC on the RSHP, he/she must take both chemistry and physics beginning this school year.