Texas First Early High School Completion Program

Overview

Senate Bill 1888, 87th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, added Texas Education Code §28.0253, which establishes the Texas First Early High School Completion Program to allow public high school students who demonstrate early readiness for college to graduate early from high school.

The purpose of the Texas First Early High School Completion Program, in conjunction with the Texas First Scholarship Program (Texas Education Code, Chapter 56, Subchapter K-1), is to promote efficiency in the state public education system and incentivize the enrollment of high performing students at eligible institutions within the state of Texas.

Statutory and Programmatic Updates

House Bill 8, 88th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, establishes that a school district is required, rather than permitted, to issue a high school diploma under the Texas First Early High School Completion Program if the student demonstrates mastery of and early readiness for college in accordance with Texas Higher Education Coordinating (THECB) board rules. 

In addition to existing options and beginning February 10, 2024, high school students interested in early graduation through the Texas First Early High School Completion Program will be able to demonstrate mastery in languages other than English (LOTE) using the Foreign Language Achievement Testing Service (FLATS), an online test administered through Brigham Young University. Detailed information about the FLATS assessment, can be accessed on the FLATS Testing website.  

Effective September 1, 2023, the list of institutions that can award the Texas First Scholarship was expanded to include all Texas public institutions of higher education. Students who graduate with the Texas First Diploma may now use the Texas First Scholarship award at any Texas public college or university to which they have been admitted. 

Prohibitions

School districts and charter schools may not –  

• impose any additional requirements on a student who wishes to graduate with a Texas First diploma;
• require a student to notify the school of their election to participate in the program earlier than the semester in which the student earns the diploma; or
• only permit students classified as juniors or seniors to earn a Texas First diploma.

Mandatory Notification

Upon a student’s initial enrollment in high school, each public high school must provide a written notification to each high school student and the student's parent or guardian regarding the requirements to earn a high school diploma under the program and the Texas First Scholarship Program and listing the eligibility criteria for the Texas First Early High School Completion Program and Texas First Scholarship Program. (19 TAC Part I, §21.54)

The notice must include information about the requirement that a student must provide an official copy of their assessment results and transcripts, as applicable, to receive credit for the assessments and credits required to graduate with a Texas First diploma.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has provided a flyer that can be used by school districts and charter schools as notification to students and families.

Diploma Equivalency

A student who graduates early through the Texas First Early High School Completion Program is considered to have earned a diploma with a distinguished level of achievement under Texas Education Code §28.025. The school must provide each student who earns a program diploma with a designation of distinguished level of achievement on the student's diploma.

For more information regarding the Texas First Early High School Completion Program, please visit the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s Texas First Diploma web page.

Resources

• Texas First Early High School Completion Program Webinar (February 24, 2023) (PDF, 1,305KB)
• Texas First Early High School Completion Program Webinar (February 24, 2023) (Video)
• Texas First Diploma Flyer
• TEC §28.0253
• 19 TAC Part I, Chapter 21, Subchapter D (§§21.50-21.55)
• High School Personal Graduation Plan (Texas First Diploma content) (outside source)
• Texas First Diploma Eligibility Tool (outside source)