Performance Acknowledgments

(a) A student may earn a performance acknowledgment on the student's transcript for outstanding performance in a dual credit course by successfully completing:

(1) at least 12 hours of college academic courses, including those taken for dual credit as part of the Texas core curriculum, and advanced technical credit courses, including locally articulated courses, with a grade of the equivalent of 3.0 or higher on a scale of 4.0; or

(2) an associate degree while in high school.

(b) A student may earn a performance acknowledgment on the student's transcript for outstanding performance in bilingualism and biliteracy as follows.

(1) A student may earn a performance acknowledgment by demonstrating proficiency in accordance with local school district grading policy in two or more languages by:

(A) completing all English language arts requirements and maintaining a minimum grade point average (GPA) of the equivalent of 80 on a scale of 100; and

(B) satisfying one of the following:

(i) completion of a minimum of three credits in the same language in a language other than English with a minimum GPA of the equivalent of 80 on a scale of 100; or

(ii) demonstrated proficiency in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Level IV or higher in a language other than English with a minimum GPA of the equivalent of 80 on a scale of 100; or

(iii) completion of at least three credits in foundation subject area courses in a language other than English with a minimum GPA of 80 on a scale of 100; or

(iv) demonstrated proficiency in one or more languages other than English through one of the following methods:

(I) a score of 3 or higher on a College Board Advanced Placement examination for a language other than English; or

(II) a score of 4 or higher on an International Baccalaureate examination for a higher-level languages other than English course; or

(III) performance on a national assessment of language proficiency in a language other than English of at least Intermediate High or its equivalent.

(2) In addition to meeting the requirements of paragraph (1) of this subsection, to earn a performance acknowledgment in bilingualism and biliteracy, an English language learner must also have:

(A) participated in and met the exit criteria for a bilingual or English as a second language (ESL) program; and

(B) scored at the Advanced High level on the Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System (TELPAS).

(c) A student may earn a performance acknowledgment on the student's transcript for outstanding performance on a College Board Advanced Placement test or International Baccalaureate examination by earning:

(1) a score of 3 or above on a College Board Advanced Placement examination; or

(2) a score of 4 or above on an International Baccalaureate examination.

(d) A student may earn a performance acknowledgment on the student's transcript for outstanding performance on an established, valid, reliable, and nationally norm-referenced preliminary college preparation assessment instrument used to measure a student's progress toward readiness for college and the workplace or on an established valid, reliable, and nationally norm-referenced assessment instrument used by colleges and universities as part of their undergraduate admissions process by:

(1) earning a score on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®) that qualifies the student for recognition as a commended scholar or higher by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation, as part of the National Hispanic Recognition Program (NHRP) of the College Board or as part of the National Achievement Scholarship Program of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation;

(2) achieving the college readiness benchmark score on at least two of the four subject tests on the ACT Aspire^TM examination;

(3) earning scores of at least 410 on the evidence-based reading section and 520 on the mathematics section of the SAT®; or

(4) earning a composite score on the ACT® examination of 28 (excluding the writing subscore).

(e) A student may earn a performance acknowledgment on the student's transcript for earning a state-recognized or nationally or internationally recognized business or industry certification or license as follows.

(1) A student may earn a performance acknowledgment with:

(A) performance on an examination or series of examinations sufficient to obtain a nationally or internationally recognized business or industry certification; or

(B) performance on an examination sufficient to obtain a government-required credential to practice a profession.

(2) Nationally or internationally recognized business or industry certification shall be defined as an industry-validated credential that complies with knowledge and skills standards promulgated by a nationally or internationally recognized business, industry, professional, or government entity representing a particular profession or occupation that is issued by or endorsed by:

(A) a national or international business, industry, or professional organization;

(B) a state agency or other government entity; or

(C) a state-based industry association.

(3) Certifications or licensures for performance acknowledgements shall:

(A) be age appropriate for high school students;

(B) represent a student's substantial course of study and/or end-of-program knowledge and skills;

(C) include an industry-recognized examination or series of examinations, an industry-validated skill test, or demonstrated proficiency through documented, supervised field experience; and

(D) represent substantial knowledge and multiple skills needed for successful entry into a high-skill occupation.