Background
Increasing access to higher education for all students is a priority for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). Approximately 6000 Texas students graduating in the top 10% are missing from our higher education enrollments. As a result, institutions are losing opportunities to serve academically talented students, especially African American, Hispanic, and other underrepresented populations.
In turn, these students may be missing out on earning credentials of value that will help them compete in an ever-changing and demanding workforce.
To help combat this problem, THECB worked with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and enrollment and admission leadership at institutions of higher education (IHEs) in Texas to develop and launch the Texas First Program.
This program comprises two parts:
- A diploma program, which allows students to graduate high school early with a Distinguished Level of Achievement by demonstrating early readiness for college
- A scholarship, which awards scholarship credit equivalent to up to one year of the TEXAS Grant at all Texas public institutions.
What is the Texas First Diploma Program?
Early graduation has long been an option for high school students in Texas. School districts have developed local policies that allow students to earn credits and meet state graduation requirements on a timeline that best fits the needs of individual students.
The new Texas First Program sets state-wide standards that promote efficiency in public education and incentivizes the enrollment of high-performing students at eligible universities. By creating this pathway, THECB hopes to increase access to higher education for high-achieving students who otherwise may not take this path.
A student who graduates early through the Texas First Program is considered to have earned a diploma with a Distinguished Level of Achievement! Districts are required to provide this designation on students’ Academic Achievement Record and/or diploma.
Students who graduate early and earn a Texas First Diploma receive a scholarship at participating institutions.
Program Requirements Overview
High School Credits
The Texas First Program does not specifically define all of the required coursework, but students must earn at least 22 high school credits. In addition, students are not required to meet Foundation High School program credit requirements in order to graduate under this program. Besides credits earned through high school courses, students may also earn credits through dual credit, dual enrollment, credit-by-exam, or other district-approved programs.
Subject Area Mastery
Students must demonstrate mastery in the following subject areas:
- English/Language Arts
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Studies
- Language other than English
Students can demonstrate mastery by meeting one or more of the following criteria:
- Earn a C or higher in a dual credit or dual enrollment course that meets Texas Common Core Curriculum requirements.
- Meet the college readiness standards on additional assessments such as SAT, ACT, PSAT, AP, and IB. To see the minimum required scores, download the Texas First Early High School Completion Program Subject Area Assessments and Benchmarks Table.
Texas Residency
Students must be residents of Texas in order to be eligible.
College Readiness Testing
Students must demonstrate college readiness by earning an overall scaled score in at least the 80th percentile on one or more of the following assessments: ACT, SAT, PSAT/NMSQT, TSIA/TSIA2, GED. Scores needed in order to meet the 80th percentile requirement can be found in the Subject Area Assessments & Benchmarks Chart.
Students can also meet this requirement by earning a GPA that ranks them in the top 10% of the student’s current class during the semester prior to the student’s graduation.
STAAR EOC Exams
Grade Point Average
Students must meet STAAR EOC exam requirements for the English 1 or English 2, Algebra 1, and Biology exams by either achieving Approaches Grade Level, Meets Grade Level, or Masters Grade Level for each test.
Students can also meet this requirement by achieving a passing score on a substitute assessment for that subject area authorized under Title 19 Texas Administrative Code.
Students must earn a final grade point average (GPA) equivalent to a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
FAFSA or TAFSA Completion
How to Demonstrate Subject Area Mastery
Part of fulfilling the Texas First Diploma requirements involves demonstrating subject area mastery in 5 subjects – English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies & World Languages. Students only need to show mastery by completing ONE of the items from each subject area. The following is a list of ways TVAH students can show mastery in each of the 5 subject areas in order to fulfill this diploma requirement.
English Language Arts
A TVAH student can show mastery in this subject area with a minimum of ONE of the following options:
- *SAT Test – EBRW score of 480+
- *ACT Test – English score of 18+
- *PSAT Test – EBRW score of 460+
- *CLEP Test – Any of the 6 options from Composition & Literature with score of 50+
- AP English 3 (Language) – *AP test score of 3+
- AP English 4 (Literature) – *AP test score of 3+
- TSIA2 Test – ELAR score of 945+ & Essay 5+
- Dual Credit English 3A, 3B, 4A or 4B – earn a grade of C or higher
*Not given by TVAH staff. Students must sign up for this test on their own.
Mathematics
A TVAH student can show mastery in this subject area with a minimum of ONE of the following options:
- *SAT Test – Math score of 530+
- *ACT Test – Math score of 22+
- *PSAT Test – Math score of 510+
- *CLEP Test – Precalculus, Calculus, College Algebra, or College Mathematics with score of 50+
- AP Calculus AB – *AP test score of 3+
- AP Statistics – *AP test score of 3+
- TSIA2 Test – Math score of 950+
- Dual Credit Algebra 2 – earn a grade of C or higher
*Not given by TVAH staff. Students must sign up for this test on their own.
Science
A TVAH student can show mastery in this subject area with a minimum of ONE of the following options:
*Not given by TVAH staff. Students must sign up for this test on their own.
Social Studies
A TVAH student can show mastery in this subject area with a minimum of ONE of the following options:
- *ACT Test – Reading score of 22+
- AP Human Geography – *AP test score of 3+
- AP Government – *AP test score of 3+
- AP Economics – *AP test score of 3+
- *CLEP Test – Any of the 12 options from History & Social Sciences with score of 50+
- Dual Credit US History, Special Topics in Social Studies, Government, Psychology or Sociology – earn a grade of C or higher
*Not given by TVAH staff. Students must sign up for this test on their own.
Language Other Than English
A TVAH student can show mastery in this subject area with a minimum of ONE of the following options:
*Not given by TVAH staff. Students must sign up for this test on their own.
Students are responsible for sending in score reports as documentation to their counselors to track progress on subject mastery.
Sample Graduation Plans
The following graduation plans are examples of what a student who is pursing the Texas First Diploma could follow. Students would begin 9th grade on the Multidisciplinary Endorsement track and then at the end of 9th grade declare their intention to pursue the Texas First Diploma. The Texas First Program does not specifically define all of the required coursework, but students must earn at least 22 high school credits. Graduation plans will need to be individualized based on the student’s interests, needs, strengths & weaknesses. Students also have the option to take core classes at an advanced level (honors, advanced placement or dual credit) if they choose to do so.
Sample Graduation Plan #1
8th Grade
Algebra I
Spanish I
Year 1
English I
Geometry
Biology
World Geography
Spanish II
PE
Speech & 0.5 Elective
Year 2
English II
Algebra II
Chemistry
World History
Spanish III
Fine Art
Elective
Year 3
English III
English IV
Physics
US History
AP Spanish IV
Government & Economics
In this plan, the student could take the ACT test at the end of Year 2 & show subject area mastery in 4 subjects with the following ACT scores – English: 18+, Math: 22+, Science: 23+, Reading: 22+. To show subject area mastery in World Languages the student could take either the AP Spanish exam and score a 3+ or one of the 2 CLEP Spanish exams and score a 50+.
Sample Graduation Plan #2
Year 1
English I
Algebra I
Biology
World Geography
Computer Science I
PE
Speech & 0.5 Elective
Elective
Year 2
English II
Geometry
Algebra II
Chemistry
World History
AP Computer Science Principles
Fine Art
Year 3
English III
English IV
Physics
US History
AP Computer Science A
Government & Economics
Elective
In this plan, the student could take the ACT test at the end of Year 2 & show subject area mastery in 4 subjects with the following ACT scores – English: 18+, Math: 22+, Science: 23+, Reading: 22+. To show subject area mastery in World Languages the student could take either the AP Computer Science Principles exam or the AP Computer Science A exam and score a 3+.
Texas First Program: Scholarship Requirements
In addition to early graduation, the Texas First Program provides students with a financial incentive to meet these requirements.
Students who graduate on the Texas First Program are considered to have met the eligibility requirements for a scholarship credit equivalent to up to one year of the TEXAS Grant, or a maximum of $16,137, at all Texas public institutions.
Note: Admission is not guaranteed to colleges and universities based on completion of the Texas First Program. Students must still complete the application and admission process in order to receive scholarship funds. Additionally, students should be aware that the top 10% calculation for the Texas First Program may also qualify for Texas’ Automatic Admissions Policy.
Students who graduate early with a Texas First Diploma may apply to any college or university they choose. However, the scholarship will apply only at the Texas public institution of higher education where they have been admitted.
The scholarship offer will expire at the end of the first academic year following a student’s graduation, so students are encouraged to attend college directly after high school.
School counselors must verify that the student’s top 10% ranking meets the requirements for Automatic Admission, and provide notification of eligibility.
Steps to Complete the Texas First Diploma
Step 1: Carefully review ALL program requirements and information found in this site PRIOR to deciding to pursue this diploma.
Step 2: Review additional documentation posted by the state at the following links –
- The Texas First Program (by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board)
- Texas First Diploma Flyer
- Texas First Early High School Completion Program (by TEA)
- Texas First by the Texas Administrative Code
- Texas First Scholarship
Step 3: Begin 9th grade on the Multidisciplinary Endorsement track
Step 4: At the end of 9th grade, complete the survey (will be sent out by counselors) to declare your intention to pursue the Texas First Diploma.
Step 5: Maintain an unweighted GPA of 3.0 or higher, pass all STAAR EOC tests
Step 6: Demonstrate subject area mastery in each of the 5 required subjects (as indicated on this page in the above section) and submit your test scores as documentation to your counselor
Step 7: Complete the FAFSA or TAFSA during the school year that you intend to graduate.
Step 8: The student’s counselor submits student information and documentation to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for review. Once THECB confirms the student’s eligibility, the student is issued a Certificate of Eligibility by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Once the student is a confirmed recipient of the Texas First Diploma, they must enroll in a Texas Public University in order to receive their scholoarship.