plan system established by the Texas Legislature.House Bill 5—passed by the 2013 Legislature—outlined the Foundation High School Program, which has served as the standard graduation plan for all students entering high school since the 2014-15 academic year.
“This year’s juniors are the first ones who will graduate under the new graduation plan system,” said Anita Hebert, MISD assistant superintendent of curriculum, at a Feb. 13 school board meeting. “We’ve been planning for it since these students entered their ninth grade year. It provides for a lot more flexibility in their graduation plan, especially [in] their fourth year.”
Each student will graduate with an endorsement, or specialty area. MISD offers endorsements in multidisciplinary studies; science, technology, engineering and math; arts and humanities; business and industry; and public service.
To provide more class options, Hebert said MISD has worked to develop additional science classes throughout the last three years, specifically relating to computer science. A high-school level robotics course is planned for next year as well.
Additionally, MISD–in collaboration with Lone Star College System—will add a dual-credit algebra class in which students receive both high school and college credit.
“We’re working on our course catalogs, [and] students are getting ready for course selection,” Hebert said. “We feel like we’re going to get a lot more students with that first leg into university life.”
