Graduation Requirement Eased
The TEA notified districts (June 2) that they could use the individual graduation committee (IGC) process to allow School Year 2020-21 twelfth graders who had completed all of their graduation requirements — except for passing a required end-of-course (EOC) test — to graduate.
That’s due to the Legislature passing HB999-Bernal, which the governor allowed to become law without his signature, effective May 31. The letter specifies the conditions by which an affected 12th grader can be allowed to graduate.
Charter Picks
These are the education commissioner’s seven picks (announcement) for new charter districts to open in School Year 2022-23 (with links to their original applications):
-- Essence Preparatory Charter School (San Antonio).
-- Heritage Classical Academy (Houston).
-- The Justice Hub (Houston).
-- Red Brick Academy (Houston).
-- Rocketship Public Schools (Fort Worth).
-- S.H. James Preparatory Academy (San Antonio).
-- Thrive Center for Success (Magnolia).
The State Board of Education will have one opportunity to veto any of the charters on the list during its June meeting (agenda). A public hearing will be held on
The commissioner’s selection of seven finalists for new charter districts was made from the pool of 12 applicants that underwent interviews last month (schedule and webcasts May 10, 11, 12 and 13).
A total of 27 applications were received by last January’s deadline.
Unmasked
The TEA posted guidance implementing the governor’s executive order (No. GA-36) issued in May that prohibits, as of June 5, Texas public school systems from requiring students or staff to wear a mask. Schools must allow individuals to wear a mask if they choose to do so, the guidance states.
SBEC News
The governor appointed (June 2) Comal ISD Superintendent Andrew Kim to the SBEC governing board for a term expiring Feb. 1, 2027, for a voting board slot reserved for a school administrator.
Note: The print edition of TEN incorrectly stated Andrew Kim’s school district.
Kim replaces SBEC board Chair/Harlingen CISD Superintendent Emeritus Arturo “Art” Cavazos, who is retiring from his district this month, and whose term on SBEC’s board has expired.
It will be up to SBEC’s board to elect a new chair.