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High School Completion Validation
Table of Content•US Department of Education Regulations
•Texas Education Code
•Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Memorandum
•High School Graduation Requirements
•Home schools
•San Jac’s High School Review Process
•Attorney General of Texas Activity
US Department of Education Regulations
Program Integrity Rules (Federal Register October 29, 2010):
As of July 1, 2011, Title IV eligible institutions are required “to develop and follow procedures to evaluate the validity of a student's high school diploma if the institution or the Secretary has reason to believe that the diploma is not valid or was not obtained from an entity that provides secondary school education.”
Texas Education Code Sec. 51.9241. ADMISSION OF STUDENT WITH NONTRADITIONAL SECONDARY EDUCATION.
(a) In this section:◦ (1) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003.◦ (2) "Nontraditional secondary education" means a course of study at the secondary school level in a nonaccredited private school setting,
including a home school.
(b) Because the State of Texas considers successful completion of a nontraditional secondary education to be equivalent to graduation from a public high school, an institution of higher education must treat an applicant for admission to the institution as an undergraduate student who presents evidence that the person has successfully completed a nontraditional secondary education according to the same general standards as other applicants for undergraduate admission who have graduated from a public high school.
(c) An institution of higher education may not require an applicant for admission to the institution as an undergraduate student who presents evidence that the person has successfully completed a nontraditional secondary education to:
◦ (1) obtain or submit evidence that the person has obtained a general education development certificate, certificate of high school equivalency, or other credentials equivalent to a public high school degree; or
◦ (2) take an examination or comply with any other application or admission requirement not generally applicable to other applicants for undergraduate admission to the institution.
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 232, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Memorandum
High School Graduation Requirements
Home Schools In 1991, the Texas Supreme Court upheld the lower courts rulings in the Leeper cases that determined home schools to be considered private
schools. Therefore, homeschooled children are exempt from compulsory school attendance as required by TEC Sec. 25.085.
The district courts also declared that a home school is one that includes:
“a school-age child: - residing in the State of Texas who is pursuing under the direction of a parent or parents or one standing in parental authority in or through the child's home - in a bona fide (good faith, not a sham or subterfuge) manner, - a curriculum consisting of books, workbooks, other written materials, including that which appears on an electronic screen of either a computer or video tape monitor, or any combination of the preceding from cither (1) of a private or parochial school which exists apart from the child's home or (2) which has been developed or obtained from any source, - said curriculum designed to meet basic education goals of reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics and a study of good citizenship”.
San Jac’s High School Review Process
Why change?
The Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Inspector General strongly suggested it.
“Alert to educational institutions
The Texas Attorney General’s Office urges all educational institutions – especially community colleges and universities – to be diligent in reviewing purported high school transcripts issued by entities that may be more interested in amassing profits than preparing students for higher education. Often these schools are only available online, lack nationally-recognized regional accreditation, and permit students to complete degrees in a matter of hours or days with minimal coursework. Community colleges and universities should be aware that students receiving purported high school diplomas and transcripts from these entities are possibly ineligible for Texas and federal financial aid.” (Attorney General of Texas press release, August 13, 2014, State of Texas Shuts Down Houston-area Diploma Mill)
San Jac’s High School Review Process
What gives us the right to scrutinize questionable documents?
According to the Program Integrity Rules, “the intent of new Sec. 668.16(p) is to have institutions develop a process for evaluating the legitimacy of a student's claim to have completed high school and not to have simply purchased a document that purports they completed a high school curriculum. Under this provision, institutions must develop and follow procedures to evaluate the validity of a student's high school completion if the institution or the Secretary has reason to suspect the legitimacy of the diploma.”
San Jac’s High School Review Process
What’s the process ?
With the guidance of legal counsel, San Jacinto College created the High School Evaluation and Review Team. The team includes representatives from several areas of the College:
• College Registrar• Deans of Enrollment Services• Assistant Vice Chancellor of High School Partnerships• Vice President of Accreditation and Special Projects• Interim Vice President of Student Services• Dean of Financial Aid
San Jac’s High School Review Process
The purpose of the High School Evaluation and Review Team is: 1. To review San Jacinto College’s current practice regarding the admission of high school graduates from non-traditional, unaccredited,
online, and home schools;2. To provide leadership regarding the evaluation of non-traditional, online, and home schools academic standards;3. To review all State of Texas and federal regulations regarding admission of graduates from these types of high schools;4. To review admission requirements for this population at other Texas community colleges;5. To develop the components by which all high schools will be evaluated;6. To conduct the evaluation and review of identified high schools;7. To develop a list of high schools to be placed on the Approved List;8. To develop a list of high schools to be placed on the Not-Approved List;9. To provide communication and training to employees of San Jacinto College involved with the admissions, financial aid, and advising
processes regarding these lists; 10. To present the recommended plan to the Deputy Chancellor and President;11. To implement the plan district-wide;12. To review the plan annually or as needed.
San Jac’s High School Review Process•As high school transcripts are presented to the College, front line employees search the name of unfamiliar schools against lists of approved and unapproved schools.
•If a high schools does not appear on either list or appears to be out of the ordinary, the transcript is sent to the High School Evaluation and Review Team for consideration.
•The HSERT will review the transcript in question by focusing on the following criteria:1) General Considerations2) Academics/Program Content3) Business Operations`4) Information from Governmental Authorities and other Institutions5) Accreditation
San Jac’s High School Review Process• A review form is completed for each transcript
presented to the High School Evaluation and Review Team.
• The form serves as a record of the HSERT decision and is a very useful reference tool.
• The form is based on standards, recommendations, and information from the Department of Education, Department of Education financial aid rulings, Better Business Bureau, Federal Trade Commission, Texas Attorney General, and Coordinating Board.
San Jac’s High School Review Process
What about Home Schools? Don’t students who complete a home school qualify for Title IV aid?
The Federal Student Aid Handbook says so:
To receive FSA funds, a student must be qualified to study at the postsecondary level. A student qualifies if she:
◦ has a high school diploma (this can be from a foreign school if it is equivalent to a U.S. high school diploma); ◦ has the recognized equivalent of a high school diploma, such as a general educational development or GED certificate or other state-sanctioned test or diploma-equivalency
certificate; ◦ has completed homeschooling at the secondary level as defined by state law; or◦ has completed secondary school education in a homeschool setting which qualifies for an exemption from compulsory attendance requirements under state law, if state law does
not require a homeschooled student to receive a credential for their education.
However, how would you know if the home school is one that meets the law?
The help document this eligibility, SJC requires a detailed transcript of all coursework completed by homeschooled students. In addition, parents must complete and sign a Verification of Home School Completion form.
San Jac’s High School Review Process
Attorney General of Texas Activity
April 2014 - AG filed a suit against Lincoln Academy, which resulted in Lincoln Academy shutting down in August 2014. (Attorney General of Texas press release, August 13, 2014, State of Texas Shuts Down Houston-area Diploma Mill)
December 2014 - AG filed a suite against Marque Learning Center. (Attorney General of Texas press release, December 5, 2014, Attorney General Abbott Charges Houston-based ‘Diploma Mill’ Defendants with Fraud)
January 2015 - AG filed a suite against Southwest Academy. (234TH District Court, Case Number 201500874, STATE OF TEXAS VS SOUTHWEST ACADEMY)
April 2015 - AG filed a suite against Parkview Home School. (Attorney General of Texas press release, April 20, 2015, Attorney General Ken Paxton Charges Houston-based “Diploma Mill” with Fraud)
Conclusion•US Department of Education Regulations
•Texas Education Code
•Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Memorandum
•High School Graduation Requirements
•Home Schools
•San Jac’s High School Review Process
•Attorney General of Texas Activity
Are you doing enough?
Question?
http://www.khou.com/story/news/2014/07/18/11666374/
“Dog gets high school diploma…”
