Student Readiness and High School

Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)

The ASVAB Career Exploration Program (ASVAB CEP) is a free program offered by the Department of Defense that consists of:

• The ASVAB multiple aptitude test
• Interest Self-Assessment
• Career Exploration Tools

Laws and Rules

Senate Bill (SB) 1843 (85th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2017) authorizes that each school year, each school district and open-enrollment charter school is required to provide students in grades 10 through 12 an opportunity to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test and consult with a military recruiter. School districts and open-enrollment charter schools must:

• Schedule the test during normal school hours; and
• Schedule the test at a time that limits conflict with extracurricular activities.

Additionally, SB 1843 requires that school districts and open enrollment charter schools communicate the date, time and location of testing to students and their parent/guardians.

A school district/open enrollment charter school may elect not to provide the ASVAB test, if the school provides an alternative test that:

• assesses a student's aptitude for success in a career field other than a career field that requires postsecondary education;
• is free to administer;
• requires minimal training and support of district or school faculty and staff to administer the test; and
• provides the student with a professional interpretation of the test results that allows the student to:
  • explore occupations that are consistent with the student's interests and skills; and
  • develop strategies to attain the student's career goals.

If school district or open-enrollment charter school has entered into a prior contract under which a vocational aptitude test that does not comply with the requirements for an alternative test outlined above, then the school district, open-enrollment charter school, or high school may elect not to provide the ASVAB for the term of the contract. On the expiration of the contract term, the requirements outlined in this letter become applicable to the school district, open-enrollment charter school or high school.

Finally, Senate Bill 1843 requires that no later than August 1st, the Texas Education Agency will publish a list of school districts and open-enrollment charter schools that elect not to provide the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test during the previous school year.

Reporting

2024-2025 School Year

Required ASVAB reporting was completed by the Fall 2024 PEIMS Snapshot. From this report you can find information that includes:

• districts that did not administer the ASVAB or an alternative test, and
• districts that did not administer ASVAB, but did administer an alternative test.

2023-2024 School Year

Required ASVAB reporting was completed by the Fall 2023 PEIMS Snapshot. From this report you can find information that includes:

• districts that did not administer the ASVAB or an alternative test, and
• districts that did not administer ASVAB, but did administer an alternative test.

2022-2023 School Year

Required ASVAB reporting was completed by the Fall 2022 PEIMS Snapshot. From this report you can find information that includes:

• districts that did not administer the ASVAB or an alternative test, and
• districts that did not administer ASVAB, but did administer an alternative test.

2021-2022 School Year

Required ASVAB reporting was completed by the Fall 2021 PEIMS Snapshot. From this report you can find information that includes:

• districts that did not administer the ASVAB or an alternative test, and
• districts that did not administer ASVAB, but did administer an alternative test.

2020-2021 School Year

Required ASVAB reporting was completed by the Fall 2020 PEIMS Snapshot. From this report you can find information that includes:

• districts that did not administer the ASVAB or an alternative test, and
• districts that did not administer ASVAB, but did administer an alternative test.

No LEA waiver was available in the 2020-2021 school year.”

2019-2020 School Year

Required ASVAB reporting was completed by the Fall 2019 PIEMS Snapshot. From this report you can find information that includes:

• districts that did not administer the ASVAB or an alternative test, and
• districts that did not administer ASVAB, but did administer an alternative test.

In May of 2020 TEA provided an LEA waiver for districts and open-enrollment charter schools that could not meet the 2019-2020 requirements of Senate Bill 1843 due to COVID-19 and the closing of Texas school facilities. For the 2019-2020 school year, ASVAB waivers were processed. From this report you can find information on LEAs approved for the 2019-2020 school year ASVAB waiver.

2018-2019 School Year

Required ASVAB reporting was completed by the Fall 2018 PIEMS Snapshot. From this report you can find information that includes:

• districts that did not administer the ASVAB or an alternative test, and
• districts that did not administer ASVAB, but did administer an alternative test.

2017-2018 School Year

The reporting requirements were announced through a TAA letter on November 30, 2017. Listed below are three lists that contain the following:

• districts that did not complete the reporting requirement
• districts that completed the reporting requirement but did not administer the ASVAB
• districts that completed the reporting requirement, did not administer ASVAB, but did administer an alternative test.

Resources

The Department of Defense ASVAB Program website has resources for educators, parents and students. Links to specific website pages are provided below:

• The ASVAB Program Website
• ASVAB Program Information for Schools
  • Fact sheets
  • Counselor Guides
  • Testing information and processes
  • Opt in/Opt out letters for schools
  • Interpreting Results
  • Statistics
  • Student materials
• Department of Defense ASVAB Frequently Asked Questions
• ASVAB Career Exploration Program Introduction Video
• March2Success online study program

The Texas College and Career Readiness School Models (CCRSM) are open enrollment programs that blend high school and college coursework to help underserved students develop technical skills, earn college credentials and degrees, and pursue in-demand career paths.

The statewide CCRSM network is comprised of over 550 campuses implementing or planning to implement one or more of the following CCRSM programs: Early College High Schools (ECHS) and Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools (P-TECH).

2025-2026 CCRSM Campus List:

• 2025-2026 CCRSM Campus List

Texas has CCRSM programs in every Regional Education Service Center.  During the 2023–2024 academic year, 98,140 students in grades 9-12 participated in a CCRSM program.  This includes 69,948 students enrolled in Early College High Schools (ECHS) and 28,462 students in Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools (P-TECH). These innovative campuses equip students with college credits, industry-aligned skills, and work-based learning experiences that prepare them to thrive in both college and career.

Class of 2024 CCRSM program graduate outcomes:

• 79% of ECHS graduates and 76% of P-TECH graduates earned college-level credit
• 45% of ECHS graduates earned an associate degree
• 37% of P-TECH graduates earned industry-based certifications
• 18% of P-TECH graduates earned Level I or II certificates

Graduation Information

Consequently, the graduation rate is on the rise. A National Center for Education Statistics report finds that Texas now has one of the highest graduation rates in the country. A graduation plan created by state lawmakers in 2013 is designed to give students the flexibility to follow their interests by creating "endorsements" or specialized areas of study. Beginning with the Class of 1987, the state has required students to pass state standardized tests, as well as their classes, in order to earn a high school diploma.

Announcements

Required Notification Regarding Algebra II

The 86th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2019, passed SB 232 requiring school districts, not later than September 1 of each school year, to notify by regular mail or e-mail the parents or guardians of each student enrolled in grade nine or above that state graduation requirements do not require a student to complete an Algebra II course to graduate under the Foundation High School Program. The notification must explain that if a student does not complete an Algebra II course, a student will not be eligible for—

• automatic college admission or
• certain financial aid including:
• the TEXAS grant program under Subchapter M, Chapter 56; and
• the Texas Educational Opportunity Grant Program under Subchapter P, Chapter 56.

This notification requirement applies beginning with the 2019-2020 school year. The following sample language may be used when providing notification.

• Notification Regarding Algebra II as a High School Graduation Requirement
• Notification Regarding Algebra II as a High School Graduation Requirement (Spanish)

State Graduation Requirements

Students follow the high school graduation plan that was in place when they began ninth grade. The four graduation plans currently in use require students to earn 22 to 26 course credits.

The state's newest graduation plan, created by House Bill 5 passed during the 2013 Texas legislative session, is called the Foundation High School Program. Students entering ninth grade beginning with the 2014-2015 school year are automatically enrolled in this graduation program.

Students must pass five end-of-course assessments to meet the testing requirements for graduation. Those tests cover Algebra I, English I, English II, Biology and U.S. History.

High School Diplomas for Veterans

Some veterans who dropped out of a Texas public high school to serve in the U.S. Military are eligible to receive a high school diploma.

Automatic College Admissions

Students who graduate in the top 10 percent of their high school class are eligible for automatic admission into Texas public universities.

Graduation Reports

The Texas Education Agency produces a variety of graduation reports. The Secondary School Completion and Dropouts in Texas Public Schools report is produced annually. Campus summaries provide a detailed look at the graduation, transfer and dropout rates on individual campuses.

• Prepare for the GED test.
  Use available GED preparation resources to review subject areas and build test‑taking skills.
• Create an account and schedule your tests.
  Visit www.ged.com to register, select your test subjects, and choose a testing date and location.
• Learn about the GED test.
  Find detailed information about test content, scoring, and policies before testing day.
• Check eligibility for free test vouchers.
  Contact your local adult education program to determine whether you qualify for free or reduced‑cost testing.

Advanced Academics includes courses, programs, assessments, services and supports that provide opportunities for students to demonstrate college and career readiness and earn postsecondary credit.

The advanced academics programs below are supported by the Texas Education Agency. 

This site provides you with information on curriculum, programs, rules, and other information for Career and Technical Education (CTE). CTE programs offer a sequence of courses that provides students with coherent and rigorous content. CTE content is aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in current or emerging professions. 

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