THSCA ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Announcements Updated 11/20/08
 
The Texas State Board of Education Votes on Graduation Requirements for HS Athletics
     The State Board of Education gave approval on Wednesday, November 19, to proceed with the TEKS writing process for course options for graduation requirements for athletics.

     The vote moves student athletes closer to being able to receive from one to four credits for athletics. 

     With the new 4x4 requirements establishing twenty-six credits to graduate starting with the class of 2011, students who participate in athletics but only receive two credits will be placed in a difficult situation if they have a goal of graduating in the distinguished plan. Athletes do not have enough room in their schedules to be in athletics for all four years of high school and take dual credit classes during their junior and senior years. This generates a problem. Not receiving credit for athletics in their junior or senior years will prohibit them from having enough credits to graduate. Athletics is the only elective that receives only two credits for four years of participation. Prior to the new 4x4 requirements, enough room existed in an athlete’s schedule to participate in athletics all four years and only receive two credits. Now, the extra room is gone.

     The two groups of student-athletes who will be most affected if the current system is not changed will be the upper-level students who have to manipulate their schedules to take dual-credit classes and the at-risk students who sometimes have to repeat classes because of failing grades.

     The current system of only awarding two physical education credits for four years of participation in athletics is not fair and equitable; especially when you consider all the other electives, (including JROTC, Dance and Band) receive four credits for four years.

     This vote moves us a step closer in allowing our student athletes the same opportunities for state graduation credits as allowed in all other electives.

     The measure was approved by a 10-5 vote. The following are the voting results.

Voted in Favor:
Don McLeroy – Chairman – College Station, District 9
Rene Nunez – El Paso, District 1
Rick Agosto – Secretary – San Antonio, District 3
Lawrence A. Allen, Jr. – Houston, District 4
Ken Mercer – San Antonio, District 5
Barbara Cargill – The Woodlands, District 8
Cynthia Dunbar – Richmond, District 10
Patricia Hardy – Fort Worth, District 11
Gail Lowe – Lampasas, District 14
Bob Craig – Lubbock, District 15

Voted Against:
Mary Helen Berlanga – Corpus Christi, District 2
Terri Leo – Spring, District 6
David Bradley – Vice Chairman – Beaumont, District 7
Geraldine Miller – Dallas, District 12
Mavis B. Knight – Dallas, District 13

To Contact Your S.B.O.E. Representatives:
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/sboe/members.html

9/17/08 More Information on the State Board of Education's Actions on Graduation Requirements

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