Section 89.1070 - Graduation Requirements(a) Graduation under subsection (b)(1) of this section or reaching maximum age eligibility described by § 89.1035 of this title (relating to Age Ranges for Student Eligibility) terminates a student's eligibility for special education services under this subchapter and Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and entitlement to the benefits of the Foundation School Program, as provided in Texas Education Code (TEC), §48.003(a).(b) A student who receives special education services may graduate and be awarded a diploma if the student meets one of the following conditions. (1) The student has demonstrated mastery of the required state standards (or district standards if greater) in Chapters 110-117, 126-128, and 130 of this title; satisfactorily completed credit requirements for graduation under the Foundation High School Program specified in § 74.12 of this title (relating to Foundation High School Program) applicable to students in general education; and demonstrated satisfactory performance as established for students in general education in TEC, Chapters 28 and 39, on the required end-of-course assessment instruments, which could include meeting the requirements of subsection (d) of this section.(2) The student has demonstrated mastery of the required state standards (or district standards if greater) in Chapters 110-117, 126-128, and 130 of this title; the student has satisfactorily completed credit requirements for graduation under the Foundation High School Program specified in § 74.12 of this title applicable to students in general education; and the student's admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee has determined that satisfactory performance, beyond what would otherwise be required in subsections (b)(1) and (d) of this section, on the required end-of-course assessment instruments is not required for graduation.(3) The student has satisfactorily completed credit requirements for graduation under the Foundation High School Program specified in § 74.12 of this title through courses, one or more of which contain modified curriculum that is aligned to the standards applicable to students in general education; demonstrated mastery of the required state standards (or district standards if greater) in Chapters 110-117, 126-128, and 130 of this title in accordance with modified content and curriculum expectations established in the student's individualized education program (IEP); and demonstrated satisfactory performance on the required end-of-course assessment instruments, unless the student's ARD committee has determined that satisfactory performance on the required end-of-course assessment instruments is not required for graduation. The student must also successfully complete the student's IEP and meet one of the following conditions:(A) consistent with the IEP, the student has obtained full-time employment, based on the student's abilities and local employment opportunities, in addition to mastering sufficient self-help skills to enable the student to maintain the employment without direct and ongoing educational support of the local school district;(B) consistent with the IEP, the student has demonstrated mastery of specific employability skills and self-help skills that do not require direct ongoing educational support of the local school district; or(C) the student has access to services or other supports that are not within the legal responsibility of public education, including employment or postsecondary education established through transition planning.(c) A student receiving special education services may earn an endorsement under § 74.13 of this title (relating to Endorsements) if the student:(1) satisfactorily completes the requirements for graduation under the Foundation High School Program specified in § 74.12 of this title as well as the additional credit requirements in mathematics, science, and elective courses as specified in § 74.13(e) of this title with or without modified curriculum;(2) satisfactorily completes the courses required for the endorsement under § 74.13(f) of this title without any modified curriculum or with modification of the curriculum, provided that the curriculum, as modified, is sufficiently rigorous as determined by the student's ARD committee; and(3) performs satisfactorily as established in TEC, Chapter 39, on the required end-of-course assessment instruments unless the student's ARD committee determines that satisfactory performance is not required.(d) A student receiving special education services classified in Grade 11 or 12 who has taken each of the state assessments required by Chapter 101, Subchapter CC, of this title (relating to Commissioner's Rules Concerning Implementation of the Academic Content Areas Testing Program) or Subchapter DD of this title (relating to Commissioner's Rules Concerning Substitute Assessments for Graduation) but failed to achieve satisfactory performance on no more than two of the assessments is eligible to receive a diploma under subsection (b)(1) of this section.(e) A student who has reached maximum age eligibility in accordance with § 89.1035 of this title without meeting the credit, curriculum, and assessment requirements specified in subsection (b) of this section is not eligible to receive a diploma but may receive a certificate of attendance as described in TEC, §28.025(f).(f) A summary of academic achievement and functional performance must be provided prior to exit from public school for students who meet one of the following conditions: (1) a student who has met requirements for graduation specified by subsection (b)(1) of this section or who has exceeded the maximum age eligibility as described by § 89.1035 of this title; or(2) a student who has met requirements for graduation specified in subsection (b)(2) or (b)(3)(A), (B), or (C) of this section. Additionally, a student meeting this condition is entitled to an evaluation as described in 34 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), §300.305(e)(1).(g) The summary of performance described by subsection (f) of this section must include recommendations on how to assist the student in meeting the student's postsecondary goals, as required by 34 CFR, § 300.305(e)(3). This summary must also consider, as appropriate, the views of the parent and student and written recommendations from adult service agencies on how to assist the student in meeting postsecondary goals.(h) Students who meet graduation requirements under subsection (b)(2) or (b)(3)(A), (B), or (C) of this section and who will continue enrollment in public school to receive special education services aligned to their transition plan will be provided the summary of performance described in subsections (f) and (g) of this section upon exit from the public school system. These students are entitled to participate in commencement ceremonies and receive a certificate of attendance after completing four years of high school, as specified by TEC, §28.025(f).(i) Employability and self-help skills referenced under subsection (b)(3) of this section are those skills directly related to the preparation of students for employment, including general skills necessary to obtain or retain employment.(j) For students who graduate and receive a diploma according to subsections (b)(2) or (b)(3)(A), (B), or (C) of this section, the ARD committee must determine needed special education services upon the request of the student or parent to resume services, as long as the student meets the age eligibility requirements.(k) For purposes of this section, modified curriculum and modified content refer to any reduction of the amount or complexity of the required knowledge and skills in Chapters 110-117, 126-128, and 130 of this title. Substitutions that are specifically authorized in statute or rule must not be considered modified curriculum or modified content.19 Tex. Admin. Code § 89.1070
The provisions of this §89.1070 adopted to be effective March 6, 2001, 26 TexReg 1837; amended to be effective August 1, 2002, 27 TexReg 3061; amended to be effective November 11, 2007, 32 TexReg 8129; amended to be effective August 22, 2011, 36 TexReg 413; amended by Texas Register, Volume 39, Number 52, December 26, 2014, TexReg 10460, eff. 1/1/2015; amended by Texas Register, Volume 40, Number 37, September 11, 2015, TexReg 6107, eff. 9/16/2015; amended by Texas Register, Volume 43, Number 06, February 9, 2018, TexReg 0764, eff. 2/15/2018; amended by Texas Register, Volume 46, Number 10, March 5, 2021, TexReg 1469, eff. 3/14/2021; amended to be effective October 5, 2021, 46 TexReg 6533; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 49, Number 44, November 1, 2024, TexReg 8712, eff. 11/7/2024