Texas Administrative Code › Title 19 - EDUCATION › Part 2 - TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY › Chapter 74 - CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS › Subchapter G - GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS, BEGINNING WITH SCHOOL YEAR 2012 - 2013 › Section 74.74 - Distinguished Achievement High School Program - Advanced High School Program

Current through Reg. 49, No. 28; July 12, 2024
(a) Credits. A student must earn at least 26
				  credits to complete the Distinguished Achievement High School
				  Program.
(b) Core courses. A
				  student must demonstrate proficiency in the following:
(1) English language arts--four credits. The
				  credits must consist of English I, II, III, and IV. (Students with limited
				  English proficiency who are at the beginning or intermediate level of English
				  language proficiency, as defined by §
											74.4(d)
				  of this title (relating to English Language Proficiency Standards), may satisfy
				  the English I and English II graduation requirements by successfully completing
				  English I for Speakers of Other Languages and English II for Speakers of Other
				  Languages.)
(2) Mathematics--four
				  credits. Three of the credits must consist of Algebra I, Algebra II, and
				  Geometry.
(A) The fourth credit may be
				  selected from the following courses after successful completion of Algebra I,
				  Algebra II, and Geometry:
(i)
				  Precalculus;
(ii) Independent Study
				  in Mathematics;
(iii) Advanced
				  Quantitative Reasoning;
(iv)
				  Statistics;
(v) Advanced Placement
				  (AP) Statistics;
(vi) AP Calculus
				  AB;
(vii) AP Calculus BC;
(viii) AP Computer Science;
(ix) International Baccalaureate (IB)
				  Mathematical Studies Standard Level;
(x) IB Mathematics Standard Level;
(xi) IB Mathematics Higher Level;
(xii) IB Further Mathematics Standard
				  Level;
(xiii) Robotics Programming
				  and Design;
(xiv) Discrete
				  Mathematics for Problem Solving;
(xv) Discrete Mathematics for Computer
				  Science; and
(xvi) pursuant to the
				  Texas Education Code (TEC), §28.025(b-5), a mathematics course endorsed by
				  an institution of higher education as a course for which the institution would
				  award course credit or as a prerequisite for a course for which the institution
				  would award course credit. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) shall maintain a
				  current list of courses approved under this clause.
(B) The additional credit may be selected
				  from the following courses and may be taken after the successful completion of
				  Algebra I and Geometry and either after the successful completion of or
				  concurrently with Algebra II:
(i) Engineering
				  Mathematics;
(ii) Statistics and
				  Risk Management; and
(iii) Digital
				  Electronics.
(3) Science--four credits. Three of the
				  credits must consist of a biology credit (Biology, AP Biology, or IB Biology),
				  a chemistry credit (Chemistry, AP Chemistry, or IB Chemistry), and a physics
				  credit (Physics, AP Physics, or IB Physics).
(A) The fourth credit may be selected from
				  the following laboratory-based courses:
(i)
				  Aquatic Science;
(ii)
				  Astronomy;
(iii) Earth and Space
				  Science;
(iv) Environmental
				  Systems;
(v) AP Biology;
(vi) AP Chemistry;
(vii) AP Physics B;
(viii) AP Physics C;
(ix) AP Environmental Science;
(x) IB Biology;
(xi) IB Chemistry;
(xii) IB Physics;
(xiii) IB Environmental Systems;
				  and
(xiv) pursuant to the TEC,
				  §28.025(b-5), a science course endorsed by an institution of higher
				  education as a course for which the institution would award course credit or as
				  a prerequisite for a course for which the institution would award course
				  credit. The TEA shall maintain a current list of courses approved under this
				  clause.
(B) The
				  additional credit may be selected from the following laboratory-based courses
				  and may be taken after the successful completion of biology and chemistry and
				  either after the successful completion of or concurrently with physics:
(i) Scientific Research and Design;
(ii) Anatomy and Physiology;
(iii) Engineering Design and Problem
				  Solving;
(iv) Medical
				  Microbiology;
(v)
				  Pathophysiology;
(vi) Advanced
				  Animal Science;
(vii) Advanced
				  Biotechnology;
(viii) Advanced
				  Plant and Soil Science;
(ix) Food
				  Science;
(x) Forensic Science;
				  and
(xi) Principles of
				  Engineering.
(4) Social studies--four credits. The credits
				  must consist of World History Studies (one credit), World Geography Studies
				  (one credit), United States History Studies Since 1877 (one credit), United
				  States Government (one-half credit), and Economics with Emphasis on the Free
				  Enterprise System and Its Benefits (one-half credit).
(5) Languages other than English--three
				  credits. The credits must consist of any three levels in the same
				  language.
(6) Physical
				  education--one credit.
(A) The required credit
				  may be selected from any combination of the following one-half to one credit
				  courses:
(i) Foundations of Personal
				  Fitness;
(ii) Adventure/Outdoor
				  Education;
(iii) Aerobic
				  Activities; and
(iv) Team or
				  Individual Sports.
(B)
				  In accordance with local district policy, credit for any of the courses listed
				  in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph may be earned through participation in
				  the following activities:
(i)
				  Athletics;
(ii) Junior Reserve
				  Officer Training Corps (JROTC); and
(iii) appropriate private or commercially
				  sponsored physical activity programs conducted on or off campus. The district
				  must apply to the commissioner of education for approval of such programs,
				  which may be substituted for state graduation credit in physical education.
				  Such approval may be granted under the following conditions.
(I) Olympic-level participation and/or
				  competition includes a minimum of 15 hours per week of highly intensive,
				  professional, supervised training. The training facility, instructors, and the
				  activities involved in the program must be certified by the superintendent to
				  be of exceptional quality. Students qualifying and participating at this level
				  may be dismissed from school one hour per day. Students dismissed may not miss
				  any class other than physical education.
(II) Private or commercially sponsored
				  physical activities include those certified by the superintendent to be of high
				  quality and well supervised by appropriately trained instructors. Student
				  participation of at least five hours per week must be required. Students
				  certified to participate at this level may not be dismissed from any part of
				  the regular school day.
(C) In accordance with local district policy,
				  up to one credit for any one of the courses listed in subparagraph (A) of this
				  paragraph may be earned through participation in any of the following
				  activities:
(i) Drill Team;
(ii) Marching Band; and
(iii) Cheerleading.
(D) All substitution activities allowed in
				  subparagraphs (B) and (C) of this paragraph must include at least 100 minutes
				  per five-day school week of moderate to vigorous physical activity.
(E) Credit may not be earned for any course
				  identified in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph more than once. No more than
				  four substitution credits may be earned through any combination of
				  substitutions allowed in subparagraphs (B) and (C) of this paragraph.
(F) If a student is unable to comply with all
				  of the requirements for a physical education course due to a physical
				  limitation certified by a licensed medical practitioner, a modification to a
				  physical education course does not prohibit the student from earning a
				  Distinguished Achievement Program diploma. A student with a physical limitation
				  must still demonstrate proficiency in the relevant knowledge and skills in a
				  physical education course that do not require physical activity.
(G) A student who is unable to participate in
				  physical activity due to disability or illness may substitute an academic
				  elective credit (English language arts, mathematics, science, or social
				  studies) for the physical education credit requirement. The determination
				  regarding a student's ability to participate in physical activity will be made
				  by:
(i) the student's admission, review, and
				  dismissal (ARD) committee if the student receives special education services
				  under the Texas Education Code (TEC), Chapter 29, Subchapter A;
(ii) the committee established for the
				  student under Section 504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 United
				  States Code, §794) if the student does
				  not receive special education services under the TEC, Chapter 29, Subchapter A,
				  but is covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; or
(iii) a committee established by the school
				  district of persons with appropriate knowledge regarding the student if each of
				  the committees described by clauses (i) and (ii) of this subparagraph is
				  inapplicable. This committee shall follow the same procedures required of an
				  ARD or a Section 504 committee.
(7) Speech--one-half credit. The credit may
				  be selected from the following courses:
(A)
				  Communication Applications; and
(B)
				  Professional Communications.
(8) Fine arts--one credit. The credit may be
				  selected from the following courses:
(A) Art,
				  Level I, II, III, or IV;
(B) Dance,
				  Level I, II, III, or IV;
(C) Music,
				  Level I, II, III, or IV;
(D)
				  Theatre, Level I, II, III, or IV;
(E) Principles and Elements of Floral
				  Design;
(F) Digital Art and
				  Animation; and
(G) 3-D Modeling and
				  Animation.