1. Understanding House Bill 5 Graduation Requirements:
Graford High School
May 2014

2. Accountability, Assessments, and Graduation Plans
The Intent of HB5:
Accountability, Assessments, and Graduation Plans
During the 83rd Texas Legislature, House Bill 5 was signed into law, which changes high school graduation requirements for students who will be freshmen during the school year and beyond.
It establishes one graduation plan - Foundation High School Program (FHSP) - with opportunities to earn endorsements and performance acknowledgements.

3. Accountability, Assessments, and Graduation Plans
The Intent of HB5:
Accountability, Assessments, and Graduation Plans
The goals:
develop a more diverse workforce,
send students to the postsecondary level more prepared, and
understand that each student’s path to the workforce is unique.

4. High School Graduation Requirements
To receive a high school diploma, a student entering Grade 9 in school year and thereafter must accomplish the following:
complete the Foundation High School curriculum,
pass the EOC testing requirements (English I & II, Algebra I, Biology, and U.S. History),
AND
demonstrate proficiency in professional communication.

5. FOUNDATION REQUIREMENTS – 22 Credits
ENGLISH
English I
English II
English III
Advanced English
MATHEMATICS
Algebra I
Geometry
Advanced Math
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
FINE ART
SCIENCE
Biology
IPC or Advanced Science
Advanced Science
SOCIAL STUDIES
World History or Geography
US History
Government/Economics
LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH (2 Years)
FIVE (5) ELECTIVES

6. **Multi-disciplinary
The New Plan for Texas Graduation Requirements
Arts/ Humanities
Business & Industry
Public Service
STEM
**Multi-disciplinary
ENDORSEMENTS
Foundation Graduation Plan + Endorsements
Credits
English I, English II, English III, Advanced English
Biology, Chemistry, Advanced Science
World Geography, World History, US History,
Algebra I, Geometry, Advanced Math
Government/Economics
Foreign Language (2 Credits)
Physical Education, Fine Arts, and Electives 26

7. “Top 10% of the Class for automatic admission”
Distinguished Achievement
To be considered as
“Top 10% of the Class for automatic admission”
Have Algebra II success,
Earn four credits in science,
Complete curriculum requirements,
AND
Graduate with an endorsement.

8. What
does
all of
this mean
for you?

9. You have a choice!
What do you want to be
when you
grow up??

10. Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM)
Math : Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II and College Prep. Math, Statistics, or Algebraic Reasoning.
Science: Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Anatomy & Physiology,
Environmental Systems, or Advanced Animal Sciences

11. Business & Industry
Agricultural Sciences: Principles of Agriculture, Livestock/Small Animal Mgmt, Wildlife, Ag. Mechanics, Range Ecology & Management, or Advanced Animal Sciences
Hospitality and Tourism: Principals of Family Consumer Sciences, Lifetime Nutrition and Wellness, Hospitality Service and Culinary Arts, including a Practicum

12. Business & Industry (con’t.)
Information Technologies: Principles of Information Technology, Digital Media, Computer Programming, and Web Technologies
 Advanced journalism: Yearbook (3 years), by acceptance only at the end of your freshman year.

13. Public Services
Human Services: Principals of Family Consumer Sciences, Lifetime Nutrition and Wellness, Child Development, and Child Guidance
Health Services: Health Science, Medical Terminology, Life Nutrition & Wellness, Anatomy & Physiology, and Pathophysiology

14. Arts & Humanities
Social Studies: World Geography, World History, US History, Government, Economics, and Sociology or Psychology
Language other than English: Spanish I, Spanish II, Spanish III, and Spanish IV
Fine Arts: Art I, Art II, Art III, and Art IV

15. Multidisciplinary Studies
Foundation Subjects: Current 4x4 requirement, including English IV, Chemistry, and Physics
Dual Credit: Four dual credit courses selected from English, mathematics, science, social studies, economics, languages other than English, or fine arts, offered through Weatherford College

16. You have even more
choices to consider!

17. Performance Acknowledgements
Having an Outstanding Performance(s) in:
Dual Credit (>12 hours with a 3.0 or higher or an Associate’s degree.)
Bilingualism and Bi-literacy
Advanced Placement Exams
PSAT (Commended scholar) , ACT (28, excl. writing), or SAT (1250 math and reading)
Earning:
Business or Industry Certificate or License

18. Mandatory College Prep Courses
Effective
Each school district, in partnership with at least one IHE (W’ford College),
is to develop and provide courses in college prep for mathematics and
English language arts for 12th grade students who do not meet the
college readiness standards.
Courses are provided on HS campus (with our teachers).
School must give notice to eligible students and their parents/guardians.
Successful completion of these courses may be used for the advance ELA/Mathematics curriculum requirement.

19. Opportunities under HB 5
High school students have the opportunity to graduate on the Foundation Plan with or without Endorsements.
Students who graduate on the Foundation Plan (unlike the current Minimum Plan) are eligible to be accepted to a 4-year university in Texas.

20. Students Entering 9th Grade
Beginning current 8th graders
Each student shall specify in writing an intended endorsement.
Students may enroll in courses under more than one endorsement before the junior year and to choose, at any time, to earn an endorsement other than the one previously indicated.
A student may opt for the Foundation School Program without an endorsement after the sophomore year with guardian approval
AND with advisement of the counselor regarding advantages of graduating with one or more endorsements.

21. Remember, you have a choice…