ɬÀï·¬

Overview

Senate Bill 1888, 87th ɬÀï·¬ Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, added , which establishes the ɬÀï·¬ First Early High School Completion Program to allow public high school students who demonstrate early readiness for college to graduate early from high school.

The purpose of the ɬÀï·¬ First Early High School Completion Program, in conjunction with the ɬÀï·¬ First Scholarship Program (), is to promote efficiency in the state public education system and incentivize the enrollment of high performing students at eligible institutions within the state of ɬÀï·¬.

Statutory and Programmatic Updates

House Bill 8, 88th ɬÀï·¬ Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, establishes that a school district isÌýrequired, rather than permitted, to issue a high school diploma under the ɬÀï·¬ First Early High School Completion Program if the student demonstrates mastery of and early readiness for college in accordance withÌý.

In addition to existing options and beginning February 10, 2024, high school students interested in early graduation through the ɬÀï·¬ First Early High School Completion Program will be able to demonstrate mastery in languages other than English (LOTE) using the Foreign Language Achievement Testing Service (FLATS), an online test administered through Brigham Young University. Detailed information about the FLATS assessment, can be accessed on the .ÌýÌý

Effective September 1, 2023, the list of institutions that can award the ɬÀï·¬ First Scholarship was expanded to include all ɬÀï·¬ public institutions of higher education. Students who graduate with the ɬÀï·¬ First Diploma may now use the ɬÀï·¬ First Scholarship award at any ɬÀï·¬ public college or university to which they have been admitted.Ìý

Prohibitions

School districts and charter schools may not – Ìý

• impose any additional requirements on a student who wishes to graduate with a ɬÀï·¬ First diploma;
• require a student to notify the school of their election to participate in the program earlier than the semester in which the student earns the diploma; or
• only permit students classified as juniors or seniors to earn a ɬÀï·¬ First diploma.

Mandatory Notification

Upon a student’s initial enrollment in high school, each public high school must provide a written notification to each high school student and the student's parent or guardian regarding the requirements to earn a high school diploma under the program and the ɬÀï·¬ First Scholarship Program and listing the eligibility criteria for the ɬÀï·¬ First Early High School Completion Program and ɬÀï·¬ First Scholarship Program. (19 TAC Part I, §21.54)

The notice must include information about the requirement that a student must provide an official copy of their assessment results and transcripts, as applicable, to receive credit for the assessments and credits required to graduate with a ɬÀï·¬ First diploma.

The ɬÀï·¬ Higher Education Coordinating Board has provided a that can be used by school districts and charter schools as notification to students and families.

Diploma Equivalency

A student who graduates early through the ɬÀï·¬ First Early High School Completion Program is considered to have earned a diploma with a distinguished level of achievement under ɬÀï·¬ Education Code §28.025. The school must provide each student who earns a program diploma with a designation of distinguished level of achievement on the student's diploma.

For more information regarding the ɬÀï·¬ First Early High School Completion Program, please visit the .

Resources

• ɬÀï·¬ First Early High School Completion Program Webinar (March 27, 2024) (PDF, 2893KB)
• ɬÀï·¬ First Early High School Completion Program Webinar (February 24, 2023) (PDF, 1,305KB)
• (ɬÀï·¬ First Diploma content) (outside source)
• (outside source)