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.

Mandatory Notification

Upon a student’s initial enrollment in high school, a school district or open-enrollment charter school is required to provide to the student and the student's parent or guardian information regarding the requirements to earn a high school diploma under the program and the Texas First Scholarship Program.

For the 2022-2023 school year, each public high school must provide a written notification to each high school student and the student's parent or guardian listing the eligibility criteria for the Texas First Early High School Completion Program and Texas First Scholarship Program. (19 TAC Part I, §21.54)

After the 2022-2023 school year, the school must provide the notice to each student and the student's parent or guardian upon the student's initial enrollment in high school. 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 receive early graduation from the program.

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)