(a) General requirements.

College Board advanced placement and International Baccalaureate courses may be substituted for requirements in appropriate areas. Credit may be awarded without prior instruction under Texas Education Code, §28.023 (Credit by Examination). The student must demonstrate proficiency in the following.

(1) English - four credits. The credits must consist of English I, English II, English III, and English IV ( English I for Speakers of Other Languages and English II for Speakers of Other Languages may be substituted for English I and II for immigrant students with limited English proficiency only).

(2) Mathematics - three credits. The credits must consist of Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry.

(3) Science - three credits. Students may choose three credits from the following four areas. Not more than one credit may be chosen from each of the four areas. All students who wish to complete the recommended high school program are encouraged to take Biology, Chemistry, and Physics to fulfill the requirements of this section.

(A) Integrated Physics and Chemistry;

(B) Biology, AP Biology, or IB Biology;

(C) Chemistry, AP Chemistry, or IB Chemistry; and

(D) Physics, Principles of Technology I, AP Physics, or IB Physics.

(4) Social studies - three and one-half credits. The credits must consist of World History Studies (one credit), World Geography Studies (one credit), United States History Studies Since Reconstruction (one credit), and United States Government (one-half credit).

(5) Economics with emphasis on the free enterprise system and its benefits - one-half credit.

(6) Languages other than English - two credits. The credits must consist of Level I and Level II in the same language.

(7) Health - one-half credit, or Health Science Technology - one credit.

(8) Fine arts - one credit, which may be satisfied by any course in Chapter 117 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills in Fine Arts).

(9) Physical education - one and one-half credits to include one-half credit in Foundations of Personal Fitness.

(A) A school district board of trustees may allow a student to substitute certain physical activities for the one and one-half required credits of physical education, including the one-half credit of Foundations of Personal Fitness. The substitutions must be based on the physical activity involved in drill team, marching band, and cheerleading during the fall semester; Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC); athletics; Dance I-IV; and two- or three-credit career and technology work-based training courses.

(B) In accordance with local district policy, a school district may also apply to the commissioner of education for a waiver to allow credit for appropriate private or commercially-sponsored physical activity programs conducted on or off campus. Such approval may be granted under the following conditions.

(i) Olympic-level participation and/or competition includes a minimum of 15 hours per week of highly intense, professional, supervised training. The training facility, instructors, and the activities involved in the program must be certified by the superintendent to be of exceptional quality. Students qualifying and participating at this level may be dismissed from school one hour per day. Students dismissed may not miss any class other than physical education.

(ii) Private or commercially-sponsored physical activities include those certified by the superintendent to be of high quality and well supervised by appropriately trained instructors. Student participation of at least five hours per week must be required. Students certified to participate at this level may not be dismissed from any part of the regular school day.

(10) Technology applications - one credit, which may be satisfied by:

(A) all courses in Chapter 126 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Technology Applications);

(B) the following courses in Chapter 120 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Business Education): Business Computer Information Systems I or II, Business Computer Programming, Telecommunications and Networking, or Business Image Management and Multimedia; or

(C) the following courses in Chapter 123 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Technology Education/Industrial Technology Education): Computer Applications, Technology Systems (modular computer laboratory-based), Communication Graphics (modular computer laboratory-based), or Computer Multimedia and Animation Technology.

(11) Speech - one-half credit in Communication Applications, Speech Communication, Public Speaking, Debate, or Oral Interpretation.
 

All students who wish to complete the recommended high school program are encouraged to study each of the foundation curriculum areas (English language arts, mathematics, science and social studies) every year in high school as provided in Option I. Options II and III are provided for students who want to focus on a particular career exploration or the development of an academic interest or artistic talent. College Board advanced placement and International Baccalaureate courses may be substituted for requirements in appropriate areas. The student must choose one of the following options for additional components. Credit may be awarded without prior instruction under Texas Education Code, §28.023 ( Credit by Examination), or §39.023(i) ( end-of-course tests).

(1) Option I: mathematics, science, elective. The student must demonstrate proficiency in the following.

(A) Mathematics - one credit. The credit must consist of Precalculus.

(B) Science - one credit. Students may select any Science course including Integrated Physics and Chemistry; Biology; Environmental Systems; Chemistry; Aquatic Science; Physics; Astronomy; Geology, Meteorology, and Oceanography; AP Biology; AP Chemistry; AP Physics; AP Environmental Science; IB Biology; IB Chemistry; IB Physics; IB Environmental Systems; Scientific Research and Design; Anatomy and Physiology of Human Systems; Medical Microbiology; Pathophysiology; Principles of Technology I; and Principles of Technology II.

(C) Elective - one and one-half credits.

(2) Option II: career and technology. The student must demonstrate proficiency equivalent to three and one-half credits in a coherent sequence of courses for career and technology preparation. To be included in the recommended high school program, a technology preparation program approved by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) must meet recommended high school program criteria in English language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, languages other than English, health, fine arts, and technology applications.

(3) Option III: academic. The student must demonstrate proficiency equivalent to three and one-half credits consisting of state-approved courses from language arts, science, social studies, mathematics, languages other than English, fine arts, or technology applications. Students may choose all three and one-half credits from one of the disciplines, or they may select courses among the listed disciplines.