
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.”