Law shakes up requirements

Maria Moreno, In-Depth Editor|April 9, 2014

For incoming freshmen the four-year path to graduation will be very different starting next year. House Bill 5, the new law known for reducing the number of state tests to grad- uate, is also shaking up state and school dis- trict requirements for what courses students have to take.

“I think reducing the number of standard- ized tests is a good thing, I think most of the problems lie with the No Child Left Behind law. I think everyone’s trying to find a way to get through it,” math teacher Ryan Nash said.

The law will replace the previous state, Minimum, Recommended, Distinguished plans with the new Foundation Program that provides students with many options. Austin ISD has approved the Distinguished Level of Achievement plan to be the default plan, un- less the student’s parents and administrators decide otherwise.

“What I don’t like about it is that some schools may choose the lowest common de- nominator and they’ll graduate kids without Algebra ll, which translates to an inadequate high school diploma.” Principal Daniel Gi- rard said.

When picking a four year plan for a stu- dent, an endorsement, a personal pathway of study, is to be chosen based on what the student wishes to study after high school. The five endorsement options are Arts and Humanities, Business and Industry, Public Service, STEM (Science and Math) and Mul- tidisciplinary.

“For the kids at Akins business won’t be any different because as students come into our school and pick an academy, they’re also deciding on a major. A major is very much in lined with an endorsement.” Girard said.

If a student wishes to qualify under the “Top Ten percent rule”, an automatic accep- tance to a university in Texas, an endorse- ment is to be chosen and the student must graduate with the distinguished plan.

“Although there’s this illusion that every kid can go to every college, but the reality is that if a student isn’t taking minimally Al- gebra II at a high school level they will not be equitable with other kids who are taking those courses.” Girard said

Students can complete the Distinguished Level of Achievement by successfully completing four credits in mathematics, science, and english.

For districts that don’t adopt the Distinguished Level of Achievement as the default graduation plan, Stu- dents would not have to take four years of math, eliminat- ing Algebra ll as required course.

Math teacher Ryan Nash thinks it is a bad idea for dis- tricts to eliminate Algebra ll as a required class.

“I think Texas should stay in standards with other states because when our kid’s show up to the same college without Algebra ll that’s going to be embarrassing,” Nash said.

Language credits will also be able to be interchange- able with a computer pro- gramming class rather than typical choices such as Spanish and French.
After many debates, state of- ficials decided to eliminate speech as a required course in the new graduation plans. Austin ISD also opted not to require it.

“I’m a strong advocate for speech and I’m a little bit disappointed that is no lon- ger required,” Girard said “I

was representing all the high school principals at House Bill 5 meetings, I was very much in the minority to ad- vocate for speech.”

The freshman social stud- ies class, World Geography, will no longer be required. The class taught students about the physical and cul- tural characteristics of the Earth.

“I think every ninth grad- er should have a background in geography. History has shown students don’t know geography isn’t just about where continents are and regions,” Social Studies de- partment chair Sharon-Kay Fayad said.

A student must successful- ly pass four english credits, although the final credit can be substituted with qualified classes.

Theeffectonsocialstudies teachers is unclear.
“We also recently found out that is is mandated by the district that we at least have to offer one section of World Geography, as for the rest of the teachers we’re hoping that nobody will lose their job and have other areas they can teach in,” Fayad said.