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RECOMMENDED PROGRAM
The Recommended Graduation Program meets the requirements for the state’s Recommended Program Seal.  The Recommended Program includes a specific core of required courses that provide a well-balanced, rigorous academic program with elective courses options.  The Elective Courses Component selections will be made by the student based upon individual needs, interests, and/or aptitudes.

DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM
All students who successfully complete the Recommended High School Program are prepared for college-level work. The purpose of the Distinguished Achievement Program is to recognize students who have performed at a level clearly beyond that expected of high school students. The course requirements for the Distinguished Achievement Program include all of the courses required for the Recommended Program and an additional unit of the same Languages Other Than English. In addition to the course requirements, students must complete four advanced measures that focus on performance at the college or professional level. See the RISD Secondary Program of Studies for Advanced Measures Requirements.

RISD GRADUATES MUST COMPLETE THE RECOMMENDED PROGRAM OR THE DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM BEGINNING IN 2004-2005 AND THEREAFTER
Students entering the ninth grade in the 2004-2005 school year and thereafter, are required to enroll in courses necessary to complete the curriculum requirements identified by the State Board for the Recommended Program Seal or the Distinguished Achievement Program Seal unless the student, the student’s parent/guardian, and the student’s counselor (or principal designee) agree that the student should be permitted to complete the Regular Program.

RISD REGULAR PROGRAM
The Regular Program offers students a flexible academic program.  The plan includes a core of required courses that provide students a well-balanced academic program with some choice in content areas.  The Elective Courses Component selections will be made by the student based upon individual needs, interests and/or aptitudes.  For students entering the ninth grade in the 2004-2005 school year and thereafter, the student’s parent/guardian, and the student’s counselor (or principal designee) must agree and sign appropriate documentation permitting the student to complete the Regular Graduation Program.

Distinguished Achievement Program - Students entering 9th grade in 2001-2002 and Thereafter

ACADEMIC CORE COMPONENTS

All course requirements may be satisfied through successful completion of regular, Pre-AP, honors, and/or AP courses. No course substitutions are allowed in the Distinguished Achievement Program.

	Unit Equivalent
ENGLISH	4.0
1.0 unit in English 1, 1.0 unit in English 2 1.0 unit in English 3, 1.0 unit in English 4
MATHEMATICS	3.0
1.0 unit in Algebra 1, 1.0 unit in Geometry, 1.0 unit in Algebra 2
SCIENCE	3.0
1.0 unit in Biology and not more than 1.0 unit may be chosen from each of the three areas: Integrated Physics and Chemistry; Chemistry; or Physics (2.0 units)
SOCIAL STUDIES	4.0
1.0 unit in World Geography, and 1.0 unit in World History, 1.0 unit in U.S. History, .5 unit in U.S. Government, .5 unit in Economics
HEALTH - .5 unit of Health	.5
SPEECH	.5
.5 unit in Communications Applications
FINE ARTS - 1.0 unit of Fine Arts	1.0
PHYSICAL EDUCATION - 1.5 units in Physical Education	1.5
TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS	1.0
1.0 unit in Technology Applications (selections from state-approved [Part A] Technology Application courses only)
LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH (LOTE) - 3.0 units in the same LOTE	3.0
ELECTIVE COURSES COMPONENT	2.5
Elective selections may be made from all state-approved courses and may include a .5 unit in Physical Education. Elective course choices will reflect the student's individual needs, interests, and/or aptitudes.
TOTAL UNITS OF CREDIT	24.0

ADVANCED MEASURE REQUIREMENTS

In addition to the course requirements, to earn the Distinguished Achievement Seal, students must complete four advanced measures.  Students may choose any combination from the following list to meet the advanced measures requirement:

• Earn a score of 3 or above on a College Board AP exam (each exam can count as one measure).

• A score on the PSAT that qualifies a student for recognition as a Commended Scholar, or higher; as part of the National Hispanic Scholar Program; or as part of the National Achievement Scholarship Program (may count as only one advanced measure).

• A grade of 80 (3.0) or higher on academic college courses that count for college credit.

• Complete original research or project judged by a panel of professionals in the field that is the focus of the project; or conducted under the direction of mentor(s), reported to an appropriate audience, and related to the required curriculum set forth  in §74.1 of the Texas Administrative Code (relating to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills).  A student may have a maximum of two research/projects which count as one of the four measures. 

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ACADEMIC CORE COMPONENTS

All course requirements may be satisfied through successful completion of regular, Pre-AP, honors, and/or AP courses. No course substitutions are allowed in the Recommended Program.

	Unit Equivalent
ENGLISH	4.0
1.0 unit in English 1, 1.0 unit in English 2, 1.0 unit in English 3, 1.0 unit in English 4
MATHEMATICS	3.0
1.0 unit in Algebra 1, 1.0 unit in Geometry, 1.0 unit in Algebra 2
SCIENCE	3.0
1.0 unit in Biology and not more than 1.0 units may be chosen from each of the three areas: Integrated Physics and Chemistry; Chemistry; or Physics (2 units).
SOCIAL STUDIES	4.0
1.0 unit in World Geography, and 1.0 unit in World History, 1.0 unit in U.S. History, and .5 unit in U.S. Government, .5 unit in Economics
HEALTH - .5 unit of Health	.5
SPEECH -	.5
.5 unit in Communication Applications
FINE ARTS - 1.0 unit of Fine Arts	1.0
PHYSICAL EDUCATION - 1.5 units in Physical Education	1.5
TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS	1.0
1.0 units in Technology Applications (selections from state-approved [Part A] Technology Application courses only)
LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH (LOTE)	2.0
2.0 units in the same LOTE
ELECTIVE COURSES COMPONENT	3.5
Elective selections may be made from all state-approved courses and may include a .5 unit in Physical Education. Elective course choice will reflect the student's individual needs, interests, and/or aptitudes.
TOTAL UNITS OF CREDIT	24.0

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RISD Regular graduation - Students entering 9th grade in 2001-2002 and Thereafter

ACADEMIC CORE COMPONENTS

All course requirements may be satisfied through successful completion of regular, Pre-AP, honors, and/or AP courses.

	Unit Equivalent
ENGLISH	4.0
1.0 unit in English 1, 1.0 unit in English 2, 1.0 unit in English 3, 1.0 unit in English 4
MATHEMATICS	3.0
1.0 unit in Algebra 1 required, and 1.0 unit in Geometry required, and 1.0 unit in Algebra 2 or an additional 1.0 math unit*
SCIENCE	3.0
1.0 unit in Biology required and 1.0 units in Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC), and 1.0 additional science unit in any state-approved science course(s).* (Plan II student is urged to take 1.0 unit of IPC or if student doesn't take IPC, then student must take Chemistry and Physics in addition to the required 1.0 unit of Biology to complete 3.0 unit requirement.)
SOCIAL STUDIES*	3.0
1.0 unit in World Geography and 1.0 unit in World History, 1.0 unit in U.S. History, .5 unit in U.S. Government, .5 unit in Economics
HEALTH - .5 unit of Health	.5
SPEECH	.5
.5 unit in Communication Applications*
FINE ARTS or ADDITIONAL SPEECH	1.0
1.0 unit of Fine Arts* and/or additional state-approved Speech*
PHYSICAL EDUCATION 1.5 units in Physical Education*	1.5
TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS	1.0
1.0 unit in Technology Applications (selections from state-approved [Part A] Technology Application courses only)*
LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH (LOTE) or TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS and ELECTIVE	2.0
2.0 units in LOTE* or 1.0 additional Technology Applications* and 1.0 additional state-approved elective
ELECTIVE COURSES COMPONENT*	3.5
Elective selections may be made from all state-approved courses and may include a .5 unit in Physical Education.* Elective course choice will reflect the student's individual needs, interests, and/or aptitudes.
TOTAL UNITS OF CREDIT	24.0

*See course options in the RISD Secondary Program of Studies.

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