1. Laurie Posner, MPA, IDRA
Austin • February 10, 2016
Graduation Plan Changes: Briefing

2. 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

3. “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

4. Statewide Goals for Post-Secondary
Enrollment and Success
Texas Higher Education Strategic Plan: 2015–2030

5. 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

6. 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

7. Foundation Plan, Endorsements, and
Distinguished Achievement

8. Progress Prior to Graduation Plan Changes
Source: http://budurl.com/IDRAattrtn

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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