AUSTIN — A program that would allow high school students in the Dallas school district to get a diploma in three years and use the savings to fund full-day prekindergarten classes won enthusiastic approval from the State Board of Education and Commissioner Michael Williams on Wednesday.
The plan, which the Legislature authorized in 2013, will be offered initially to ninth-graders at all Dallas high schools this year. Students who participate will meet the same graduation requirements as other students, but be allowed to finish in three years by earning course credits in summer school and taking some high school classes in middle school.
“It is a very solid plan that ensures these students will be prepared [for college or career training] when they graduate from high school,” Associate Education Commissioner Monica Martinez told board members. She noted that the commissioner approved the plan contingent on Wednesday’s review by the board.
Martinez said it will be rolled out for other districts if it proves successful in Dallas.
“This is an incredibly creative way to offer alternatives to our students,” said board member Geraldine Miller, R-Dallas.
DISD officials have not predicted how many students might take advantage of the three-year graduation option, but they noted that school counselors in coming weeks will be advising middle school students and ninth-graders about the alternative. Last year, fewer than 30 students in the district graduated after three years.
Linda Johnson, executive director for college and career readiness in DISD, told state board members that in addition to expanding summer school, the district is considering putting more high school-level courses in middle schools for eighth-graders. Those include physics and English I. Many of those students already take Algebra I and Spanish I.
“We want to make sure these students are not overburdened” in high school, she added.
Johnson also said those students will be placed on the new distinguished achievement graduation plan, which requires 26 course credits. All students will be offered the chance to participate in the three-year plan.
Sen. Royce West and Rep. Eric Johnson, both Democrats from Dallas, sponsored legislation to create the program.
West said part of the motivation for the program was “senioritis,” the inability of many seniors to accomplish much in their last year of high school, particularly those who have already met most of their graduation requirements.
“A lot of students just don’t do that much academically in the fourth year,” he said. “There will be a strong interest in this, from both students and their school districts.”
In other action Wednesday, board members tentatively voted to require that Texas curriculum standards for U.S. history be taught in all AP history classes. The new rule, adopted on a 12-3 vote, was approved in response to complaints that recent changes in the AP history course have excluded some state standards.
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