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Endorsements
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All incoming freshman must declare an endorsement area on their Personal Graduation Plan. Within each endorsement is Program of Study - how you will earn the endorsement. At CISD, we offer all five endorsements and multiple Programs of Study depending on your career interest.
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
The Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) endorsement is a curriculum path that allows a student to focus on courses directly related to science, technology, engineering and advanced mathematics.
CAREERS
In the STEM field, there are an extensive amount of careers to choose from including: engineering, computer programming, software developer, and research scientist. Students interested in pursuing a career related to these areas are encouraged to consider a STEM endorsement and pathway.
COURSE SELECTION
A student may earn a STEM endorsement by completing the requirements specified in the foundation plan, including Algebra II, chemistry and physics, in addition to one of the following:
- A coherent sequence of courses for four or more credits in career and technical education (CTE) that consists of at least two courses in the same career cluster and at least one advanced CTE course. The courses may be selected from Chapter 130 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career and Technical Education), Chapter 127 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career Development and Career and Technical Education), or CTE innovative courses approved by the commissioner of education. The final course in the sequence must be selected from Chapter 127, Subchapter O, of this title (relating to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) or Career Preparation I or II and Project-Based Research in Chapter 127, Subchapter B, of this title (relating to High School), if the course addresses a STEM-related field;
- courses required to complete a TEA-designated program of study related to STEM;
- three credits in mathematics by successfully completing Algebra II and two additional mathematics courses for which Algebra II is a prerequisite;
- four credits in science by successfully completing chemistry, physics, and two additional science courses.
Arts and Humanities
The Arts and Humanities endorsement is a curriculum path that allows a student to focus on courses directly related to fine arts, English literature, foreign languages and social studies.
CAREERS
Students interested in pursuing a career path in the entertainment industry or as an interpreter, or writer, for example, may want to consider the Arts and Humanities endorsement to guide course selection.
COURSE SELECTION
A student may earn an arts and humanities endorsement by completing the requirements specified in the foundation plan and one of the following:
- five social studies credits;
- four levels of the same language in a language other than English;
- two levels of the same language in a language other than English and two levels of a different language in a language other than English;
- a coherent sequence of four credits by selecting courses from one or two categories or disciplines in fine arts
Art and Humanities Endorsement includes courses directly related to:
- Art
- Music/Band
- Theatre
- Choir
- Languages Other than English
- Advanced Placement Social Studies
Public Service
The Public Services endorsement is a curriculum path that allows a student to focus on courses related to the public services field including the education, health care, and human services.
CAREERS
There is a wide range of careers available in the public service! Some paths include law enforcement, firefighter or EMT, government official, medical, human resources administrator or teacher. Students interested in pursuing an intentional path toward any of these careers should consider a Public Services endorsement to guide course selection.
COURSE SELECTION
A student may earn a public services endorsement by completing the requirements specified in the foundation plan and one of the following:
- a coherent sequence of courses for four or more credits in CTE that consists of at least two courses in the same career cluster and at least one advanced CTE course;
- courses required to complete a TEA-designated program of study related to public services;
- four courses in Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC).
Business and Industry
The Business and Industry endorsement is a curriculum path that allows a student to focus on courses related to the business field.
CAREERS
Related business careers include: information technology specialist, architecture, communications, engineering, construction, welding, and various agricultural fields. Students interested in pursuing an intentional path in the business world may want to consider the Business and Industry endorsement to guide course selection.
COURSE SELECTION
A student may earn a business and industry endorsement by completing the requirements specified in the foundation plan in addition to one of the following:
- a sequence of courses for four or more credits in career and technical education (CTE) that consist of at least two courses in the same career cluster, including at least one advanced CTE course;
- courses required to complete a TEA-designated program of study related to business and industry;
- or four English credits from Chapter 110 and three levels in one of the following areas:
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- advanced broadcast journalism
- advanced journalism: newspaper
- advanced journalism: yearbook
- public speaking
- debate
Multidisciplinary
The Multidisciplinary endorsement allows for students to further study a foundation area or a variety of courses from various endorsements.
CAREERS
Because of the broad nature of a multidisciplinary endorsement, students can choose from a wide variety of careers. If students are unsure of their career interests and wish to cross-study multiple subjects, they may want to consider this endorsement to guide course selection.
COURSE SELECTION
A student may earn a multidisciplinary studies endorsement by completing the requirements specified in the foundation plan, in addition to one of the following:
- Take 4 advanced courses that prepare a student to enter the workforce successfully or postsecondary education without remediation from within one endorsement area or among endorsement areas that are not in a coherent sequence;
- Take 4 credits in each of the 4 foundation subject areas to include English IV and chemistry and/or physics;
- Take 4 Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or dual credit courses selected from English, mathematics, science, social studies, economics, languages other than English, or fine arts.
*For more information on this and other endorsements, please visit our page on House Bill 5*
As always, your counselors are ready and able to answer any questions you may have about choosing a career or choosing courses related to any of the above endorsements.
Endorsement FAQ's
1. Does every student have to graduate with an endorsement?
No. A student may opt to graduate Foundation High School Program only without an endorsement if, after the student's sophomore year the student and the student's parent or guardian are advised by a school counselor of the specific benefits of graduating from high school with one or more endorsements and the student's parent or guardian files with a school counselor written permission, on a form adopted by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), allowing the student to graduate under the Foundation High School Program without earning an endorsement.
2. Can a student earn more than one endorsement?
Yes. A district must allow a student to enroll in courses under more than one endorsement before the student's junior year.
3. Can a student change endorsements? When?
Yes. While a district is not required to offer all endorsements, a district must allow a student to choose, at any time, to earn an endorsement other than the endorsement the student previously indicated from among the available endorsements.
4. Will all high schools be required to offer multiple endorsements, even those that focus 100% STEM/engineering?
No. Statute requires each school district to make available to high school students courses that allow a student to complete the curriculum requirements for at least one endorsement. A school district that offers only one endorsement curriculum must offer the multidisciplinary studies endorsement curriculum.
5. May a course satisfy both a foundation and an endorsement requirement?
Yes. A course completed as part of the set of four courses needed to satisfy an endorsement requirement may also satisfy a requirement under the Foundation High School Program, including an elective requirement. A student must still earn a total of 26 credits to graduate on the Foundation High School Program with an endorsement.
6. Do districts have the authority to require Algebra II or other specific courses for all endorsements?
Yes. School districts have the authority to establish requirements in addition to what the state requires of students for graduation. This is a local decision.
7. Who decides what constitutes a coherent sequence of courses?
Each local school district has the authority to determine a coherent sequence of courses and identify courses within that sequence as advanced courses for the purposes of satisfying an endorsement requirement, provided that prerequisites are followed.
8. In some endorsement options there doesn’t seem to be a clear sequence. Will the district determine the sequence in these cases?
Yes. A school district determines the specific set of courses each student must complete to earn an endorsement, provided that prerequisites are followed and that the set of courses meets the requirements of the options listed for an endorsement in SBOE rule.
9. Are students required to meet each of the options listed under an endorsement area, or they required to only meet one of the options?
To earn an endorsement a student must complete any specific course requirements and one set of requirements identified in the endorsement rules. For example, to earn a business and industry endorsement, a student must complete the course requirements for CTE or the course requirements for English language arts electives, but not both.
10. Under the endorsements for which CTE courses are an option, is there a list of “advanced CTE courses that are the third or higher course in a sequence”?
There is not a list of such courses. A school district may define advanced CTE courses keeping in mind the requirement that the course be the third or higher course in a sequence.
Texas Administrative Code Regarding Endorsements can be found at: https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.TacPage?sl=T&app=9&p_dir=N&p_rloc=209687&p_tloc=14861&p_ploc=1&pg=7&p_tac=&ti=19&pt=2&ch=74&rl=13