SB 149 requires school districts to convene individual graduation committees (IGC's) for 11th and 12th grade students who have failed to pass no more than two of the five required end-of-course (EOC) tests, at or after the end of the students' 11th grade year. 

The bill could potentially give some much needed relief for those students who are well qualified to graduate but have not passed their standardized tests.

IGC's are to include the principal or designee, the teacher of the relevant course(s), the department head or lead teacher supervising the teacher(s) of the relevant course(s) and either the student's parent or a designated advocate if the parent is unable to attend or even the student him/herself if the student is 18 years of age or older.

The superintendent of schools is required to establish procedures for convening the IGC's and, for 2014-2015 only, the procedures for appointing alternative committee members.  Districts also must establish time lines for the IGC process in school year 2014-2015 (after that, commissioner rules will dictate the time lines).  If the parent is unable to speak English, the district shall provide an appropriate translator.

Additional requirements must be recommended for each failed EOC test for a student to be eligible to graduate.

A series of required committee considerations is also included in the legislation such as teacher recommendations, student performance on the additional academic requirements, school attendance, an "Advanced High" rating on the most recent high school administration of the Texas English Language Proficiency and Accountability System (TELPAS) among others.