About This TAA
- Date:
- August 20, 2026
- Subject:
- Updates to High School Graduation Requirements
- Category:
- School Programs
- Division(s):
- 206- Curriculum Standards & Student Support
- Next Steps:
- Share with campus administrators and counselors
To the Administrator Addressed (TAA) Correspondence
Updates to High School Graduation Requirements
In June 2026, the State Board of Education (SBOE) adopted amendments to the graduation requirements in 19 Texas Administrative Code §74.11 to align with Senate Bill (SB) 2314, 89th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2025. This communication provides updates on the amended graduation requirements and information to support Texas public school systems in understanding and implementing these changes.
My Texas Future Direct Admissions Requirement
My Texas Future is an electronic platform and submission portal established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) that supports public high school students’ awareness of Texas careers — including wage outcomes — helping them plan and prepare to apply to college. Students utilize the My Texas Future direct admissions portal to identify institutions of higher education for which they would qualify for admission based on the student’s profile and academic information. SB 2314 added Texas Education Code §28.0257 to require each student, before graduating from high school, to elect whether to allow the THECB to share the student’s self-reported academic information, as necessary, with institutions of higher education for the purpose of participating in the program.
Beginning with students enrolled during the 2026–2027 school year, each student must satisfy the new direct admissions requirement to graduate. A student satisfies this graduation requirement if one of the following occurs:
- The student provides documentation that the student has established a profile on the My Texas Future website and elects to participate in the direct admissions program.
- The student’s parent or guardian submits a signed form authorizing the student to decline to complete and submit the information necessary to participate in the program (Opt-out).
- The student is 18 years of age or older, or has had the disabilities of minority removed, and signs and submits a form declining to complete and submit the information necessary to participate in the program (Opt-out).
- A school counselor authorizes the student in writing to decline to complete and submit the information necessary to participate in the program (Opt-out).
School systems should establish local procedures to ensure students satisfy the requirement and that documentation is maintained locally. To ensure that students complete the direct admissions requirement, school systems may also wish to review and update local graduation, counseling, and student records procedures this year.
Direct Admissions Program Notification Requirement
School systems must, as part of the high school registration process, annually notify each parent or guardian of a student who has earned at least three high school course credits, or not later than the end of a student’s first semester of ninth grade, of the following:
- That a student or parent/guardian must decide whether to allow the THECB to share the student’s academic information as a requirement for high school graduation. This information includes graduation plan type, class rank, grade point average, SAT total score, or ACT composite score.
- That high school students have the option to create or annually update a profile and account in My Texas Future.
- That a student or parent/guardian is permitted to update or revise the student’s profile in My Texas Future.
- That a student or parent/guardian of a student who creates a profile and account may opt out of one or more My Texas Future programs.
Direct Admissions Opt-Out Form
SB 2314 requires each school system to allow a student to opt out of direct admissions data sharing using a form adopted by the THECB, in consultation with the Texas Education Agency (TEA). The opt-out form must be made available in English, Spanish, and any other language spoken by a majority of the students enrolled in a bilingual education or special language program in the district or school. A copy of the opt-out form is posted on TEA’s Foundation High School Program web page.
High School Transcripts
The SBOE is expected to amend high school transcript requirements in 19 TAC §74.5, Academic Achievement Record (Transcript), to allow school systems to indicate on a student’s transcript that the student has satisfied the direct admissions requirement. Following adoption of those amendments, TEA will update the Texas Records Exchange (TREx) system by December 1, 2026, to enable districts to report the new requirement on the high school transcript.
Additional Information
The amendments to the graduation requirements required by SB 2314 became effective on August 1, 2026, and are available in 19 TAC §74.11.
Student academic information associated with the direct admissions process is housed in a secure database and is shared only with participating institutions of higher education through the secure Direct Admissions portal. Data provided through My Texas Future is considered confidential under Texas Education Code §61.031(d) and may only be released in conformity with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. §1232g; 34 CFR Part 99).
If you have questions regarding the My Texas Future direct admissions program, please contact the THECB’s Division of College and Career Advising by sending an email to MyTexasFutureSupport@highered.texas.gov.
If you have questions regarding graduation requirements, contact TEA’s Curriculum Standards and Student Support Division through the TEA Help Desk.