Texas lawmakers have taken final action on a measure that would overhaul state graduation requirements, scaling way back the number of end-of-course exams high school students must pass to earn a diploma and redrawing the default course of study.
The legislation would reduce from 15 to five the required state exams. And it would replace the state’s “recommended” diploma pathway with a “foundation” diploma that requires fewer courses in history, science, and math, allowing students to skip courses such as Algebra 2.
Gov. Rick Perry, a Republican, is expected to sign the legislation, the Associated Press reported. It was unanimously approved by both houses of the legislature.
All students still would have to pass state exams in Algebra 1, biology, English 1 and 2, and U.S. history. But they would not have to take end-of-course tests for Algebra 2, chemistry, physics, world history, and six other subjects, according to the Dallas Morning News.
