Under House Bill 5, entering ninth-graders, beginning the 2014-2015 academic year, will declare an endorsement in one of five areas: arts and humanities; business and industry; multidisciplinary studies; public services; and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). This will help define students’ high school careers, even noting these focused areas of study on their transcript. Earning an endorsement generally requires the following:
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a specified coherent sequence of credits,
- a fourth math and a fourth science credit;
- at least one advanced CTE credit in CTE Options;
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a final course in the CTE sequences that determines the endorsement.
There are many ways to earn an endorsement if students carefully pick their main Program of Study from Fine Arts, Languages other than English, Social Studies, Math, or Science. Students may also pick Career and Technical Education Programs of Study that have coherent sequences of courses that satisfy the new graduation requirements. All Endorsement Options and CTE Programs of Study are open to all GCCISD students.