August 12, 2009 - Trustees approved maintaining the current high school graduation requirements for the upcoming school year, and directed staff to bring a recommendation for the 2010-2011 school year, following State Board of Education actions related to House Bill 3 issues.

With the passage of House Bill 3 by the 2009 Texas Legislature, new graduation requirements will take effect on September 1, 2009, unless the Board chooses to adopt local requirements that hold the current requirements in place. Students on the Recommended High School Plan (RHSP) must still secure the same number of credits required for graduation (24 credits for those who entered ninth grade before 2007-2008 and 26 credits for those who entered ninth grade during the 2007-2008 or later); however, through House Bill 3, students have been given more flexibility in the electives they choose to take. The Board’s decision will keep in place for one additional year the current specifications for certain electives, (technology applications, health and the additional .5 credit of PE). Any change in graduation requirements has a large impact on students, Superintendent Carstarphen told Trustees. “While the change in law affords additional flexibility for students on the RHSP, an immediate change without planning time for students and families will lead to confusion and inequities in, for example, class ranking.”