The Texas Legislature has enacted a new law that will enable some kids to graduate this year, even though they came up short on an End of Course exam…or two.  Governor Abbott has signed SB 149 and it’s in effect NOW. This gives you a very short time frame to put this new provision in place.

It’s interesting to note that the same politicians who put the tough new standards in place change their tune when they see how individual students are affected.  Now, all of a sudden, they create a “pathway to graduation” for students who have met all the other requirements, but failed to perform satisfactorily on an End of Course exam.  It would be a good idea if our representatives would ALWAYS take into account how individual people will be affected by the law.

You need to get busy on this. The law deals with those students who would be graduating this year, but for their performance on EOC exams.  Each such student must have an “Individual Graduation Committee” (IGC) which will be required to consider a slew of information and factors and then decide if the wannabe graduate gets to graduate.  The kid doesn’t “walk” unless the IGC vote is unanimous.  I don’t envy those of you who will be serving on these committees.

The lawyers at my law firm are getting lots of questions about this, and we are happy to help. So give us a call at Walsh, Anderson, Gallegos, Green and Trevino, P.C.

Much more legislation is in the pipeline, but this is the first to hit the street.  Good luck.

DAWG BONE: GRADUATION JUST AROUND THE CORNER AND THE RULES CHANGE! YIKES!!