85R11583 SRS-D     By: Rodríguez S.B. No. 1657       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the use of individual graduation committees to satisfy   certain public high school graduation requirements for certain   individuals who are no longer enrolled in school.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 12.104, Education Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (b-3) to read as follows:          (b-3)  An open-enrollment charter school is subject to the   requirement to establish an individual graduation committee under   Section 28.02581.          SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 28, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 28.02581 to read as follows:          Sec. 28.02581.  HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AWARDED ON BASIS OF   INDIVIDUAL GRADUATION COMMITTEE REVIEW FOR CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS WHO   ARE NO LONGER ENROLLED STUDENTS. (a)  This section applies only to   an individual who:                (1)  is no longer enrolled in high school;                (2)  is under 26 years of age;                (3)  successfully completed the curriculum   requirements for high school graduation applicable to the   individual during the period the individual was enrolled as a   student in high school; and                (4)  for not more than two subjects, failed to comply   with any exit-level assessment instrument performance requirements   for assessment instruments administered under Section 39.023(c),   as that section existed before amendment by Chapter 1312 (S.B.   1031), Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007, and   applicable to the individual during the period the individual was   enrolled as a student in high school.          (b)  For each individual to whom this section applies, the   school district that the individual attended during the   individual's 12th grade year as a student, on request by the   individual, shall establish an individual graduation committee to   determine whether the individual may qualify to graduate as   provided by this section.  The committee shall be composed of:                (1)  the principal or principal's designee;                (2)  for each exit-level assessment instrument on which   the individual failed to perform satisfactorily, a teacher in the   applicable subject area;                (3)  the department chair or lead teacher supervising   the teacher described by Subdivision (2); and                (4)  the individual for whom the committee is   established.          (c)  The commissioner by rule shall establish a procedure for   appointing an alternative committee member if a person described by   Subsection (b)(1), (2), or (3) is unable to serve.  The   superintendent of each school district shall establish procedures   for the convening of an individual graduation committee.          (d)  The school district shall ensure a good faith effort is   made to timely notify the individual for whom the individual   graduation committee is established of the time and place for   convening the committee.  The notice must be:                (1)  provided in person or by regular mail or e-mail;   and                (2)  clear and easy to understand.          (e)  Notwithstanding any other law, an individual graduation   committee established under this section shall recommend   additional requirements by which the individual for whom the   committee is established may qualify to graduate, including:                (1)  additional remediation; and                (2)  for each exit-level assessment instrument on which   the individual failed to perform satisfactorily:                      (A)  the completion of a project related to the   subject area of the course that demonstrates proficiency in the   subject area; or                      (B)  the preparation of a portfolio of work   samples in the subject area of the course, including work samples   from the course that demonstrate proficiency in the subject area.          (f)  For purposes of Subsection (e), the individual may   submit to the individual graduation committee coursework   previously completed to satisfy a recommended additional   requirement.          (g)  In determining whether an individual for whom an   individual graduation committee is established is qualified to   graduate, the committee shall consider:                (1)  any recommendation of the teacher of the   individual in a subject area for which the individual failed to   perform satisfactorily on an exit-level assessment instrument;                (2)  the individual's grade in each course for which the   individual failed to perform satisfactorily on an exit-level   assessment instrument;                (3)  the individual's score on each exit-level   assessment instrument on which the individual failed to perform   satisfactorily;                (4)  the individual's performance on any additional   requirements recommended by the committee under Subsection (e);                (5)  the number of hours of remediation that the   individual has attended, including attendance in and successful   completion of a transitional college course in reading or   mathematics;                (6)  the individual's school attendance rate during the   period the individual was enrolled in high school;                 (7)  the individual's satisfaction of any of the Texas   Success Initiative (TSI) college readiness benchmarks prescribed   by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board;                (8)  the individual's successful completion of a dual   credit course in English, mathematics, science, or social studies;                (9)  the individual's successful completion of a high   school pre-advanced placement, advanced placement, or   international baccalaureate program course in English,   mathematics, science, or social studies;                (10)  the individual's rating of advanced high on the   high school administration of the Texas English Language   Proficiency Assessment System;                (11)  the individual's score of 50 or greater on a   College-Level Examination Program examination;                (12)  the individual's score on the ACT, the SAT, or the   Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test;                (13)  the individual's completion of a sequence of high   school courses under a career and technical education program   required to attain an industry-recognized credential or   certificate;                (14)  the individual's overall preparedness for   postsecondary success; and                 (15)  any other academic information designated for   consideration by the board of trustees of the school district.          (h)  After considering the criteria under Subsection (g),   the individual graduation committee may determine that the   individual is qualified to graduate.  Notwithstanding any other   law, an individual for whom an individual graduation committee is   established may graduate and receive a high school diploma on the   basis of the committee's decision only if the individual   successfully completes all additional requirements recommended by   the committee under Subsection (e) and the committee's vote is   unanimous.  The commissioner by rule shall establish a timeline for   making a determination under this subsection.  This subsection does   not create a property interest in graduation.  The decision of a   committee is final and may not be appealed.          (i)  The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to   implement this section.          SECTION 3.  Section 39.025, Education Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (c-2) to read as follows:          (c-2)  A school district may not administer an assessment   instrument required for graduation administered under this section   as this section existed before amendment by Chapter 1312, (S.B.   1031), Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007.     Notwithstanding any other law, a school district may administer to   a student who is at least 21 years of age and under 26 years of age   and enrolled in high school to complete a high school diploma an   end-of-course assessment instrument listed in Section 39.023(c)   for any subject that was assessed in an assessment instrument   required for graduation that was administered under this section as   it existed before amendment by Chapter 1312, (S.B. 1031), Acts of   the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007, and for which the   student failed to perform satisfactorily.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2017.