The Round Rock ISD Board of Trustees on Thursday approved recommendations from administration regarding new graduation plans that will go into effect in the 2014-15 school year.

Round Rock ISD students entering ninth-grade in the fall will automatically be placed on the district’s Distinguished Level of Achievement Plan (DLA) requiring 27 course credits and at least one endorsement.
The requirements are as follows:

Course Credits:

  • Four in English
  • Four in math (must include Algebra II)
  • Four in science
  • Four in social studies
  • Two in foreign language (same language)
  • One in physical education and one in fine arts
  • Seven in electives

Endorsement Choices:

  • Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)
  • Business and Industry
  • Public Services
  • Arts and Humanities
  • Multidisciplinary Studies

The State Board of Education (SBOE) assigned the Endorsement categories. Students earn Endorsements by successfully completing a series of courses in certain subject areas.

The DLA is required to qualify for automatic college admission under the state’s top 10 percent provisions.

“You will see a lot of similarities in Round Rock ISD’s Academies,” said Deputy Superintendent of Instruction and Administration Dr. Martha Salazar-Zamora. “Round Rock ISD was very much in the forefront in 2010 when the wall-to-wall Academy model was introduced.”

The Academy model has well prepared Round Rock ISD for the endorsement options related to the new graduation plans.

Trustees also approved the Round Rock ISD Foundation Plan with Endorsements (FPE). The FPE requires 27 course credits and a minimum of one Endorsement, but does not require the higher level math coursework to graduate. After completion of their sophomore year and with the approval of their parents, students may change the choice of endorsement or the type of graduation plan.

The third graduation plan approved by Trustees is the Round Rock ISD Foundation plan, requiring a total of 23 course credits (four in English and social studies, three in math and science, two in a foreign language, one in physical education and fine arts and five in electives). The district’s minimal plan requires one additional social studies credit more than the SBOE recommended.

“These graduation plans are intended to maintain the rigor for which Round Rock ISD is known for while allowing all students to graduate college and career ready,” Salazar-Zamora said. “Deciding what is expected of our students to graduate is one of the most important decisions educators make.”

Changes to the district’s graduation requirements were prompted by the recent adoption of new graduation plans by the SBOE and mandated by the Texas Legislature through House Bill 5.