interview questions for seniors

1. how do you feel about the incoming seniors and underclassmen receiving a more beneficial plan once we graduate?
2. The underclassmen don't have to take as many standardized tests as we did,  do you think the underclassmen are lucky they don't have to take as many as we did, do you think it's fair, what's your opinion on it?
3. Any thoughts or something to add about the new bill?

interview for students (interview sophomores and freshman)

1. Now that instead of passing 15 standardized tests, you only have to pass 5. Do you find this beneficial? How did several standardized tests affect you?
2. To be automatically accepted in to state universities in the top 10 percent of your class, you have to be on the distinguished plan, is this a problem to you? What do you agree or disagree with about this?
3. You now only have to take 3 years of math, social studies, and science, and 4 years of english. Do you think 4 years of english versus 3 years of everything else makes sense? Would you have wanted 4 years of everything? 3 years?
4. Now that you have more space for electives and individual interests, what electives would you want to take? what are you most interested in? 
5. What do you think about the new plan giving students more individual freedom to choose classes they're interested in?
6. What colleges do you plan on applying to?
7. The bill limits the number of benchmarks and STAAR tests, do you feel several standardized tests are a waste of time?

1. How will less standardized tests affect students? How did the number of standardized tests in the past years become a problem for student's time in class?
2. Now that students only have to take 3 credits of science, math, and social studies, how does this give them more flexibility in other classes? How does the current 4x4 graduation plan for graduating seniors this year differ from the years to come?
3. English is the only academic course requiring 4 credits still, why is this the only core subject requiring 4 instead of 3 like the others?
4. How does the updated plan, which is said to give students endorsements in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM); business and industry, give students more opportunities? The bill is said to give student's a greater variety of curriculum, what kinds of curriculum will be offered to students? Is it any different than the academies provided to students?
5. What is the Foundation High School Program? 
6. Do you think the bill is reasonable and more convenient for students? how?
7. How does this bill help student's reach individual potential more than it has in the past years?
8. A student is not required to retake an EOC each time the student fails it. The bill eliminates the requirement that student performance on end of course exams must account for 15% of the student’s course grade. How can this benefit the students? What is your opinion on this rule?
9. The new bill is said to be tougher on students, why would some people believe this?
10. That “distinguished level of achievement” is required for students to qualify for automatic admission to state universities if they graduate in the top of their classes. Do you believe every student should be on the distinguished plan?
11. Do you think students will respond well to the new bill? How do you feel about the changes to come in the next years?

info for HB5

• hb5 schools will have less standardized testing. 
•  new high school graduation requirements
•  But the requirement for science, math and social studies has dropped to three credits, giving students more flexibility in elective coursework 
•  The updated plan includes endorsements students can earn in specific subjects including business and industry, humanities, science and technology. 
• he law also reduces the number of standardized exams, STAAR tests, that high school students must pass in order to graduate from 15 to five. 
• Reducing the number of end of course exams from 15 to five, adding more vocational paths to graduation, and dumping the old accountability system of Exemplary/Recognized/Academically
• The state's graduation requirements will "significantly change" beginning with freshmen entering high school in 2014. 
• The governor signed HB5 on June 10 
• "English I, English II, Algebra I, U.S. history and biology EOCs are required, while the state will no longer require students to pass (State Assessment of Academic Readiness) chemistry, physics, geometry, world history, world geography, Algebra II and English II EOC tests to graduate. HB5 also eliminated the requirement that districts include the EOC results as 15 percent of course grades," according to the release. 
• moving from the current “4x4” graduation plans to a 22
• credit Foundation High School Program that allows students to earn endorsements in specific areas of study by completing four additional credits -The new plan requires the state board to make a number of policy decisions, such as deciding which courses will count as advanced mathematics, English and science courses and determining the requirements for each endorsement area.
• The endorsement areas are science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM); business and industry; public services; arts and humanities; and multidisciplinary studies. -the new graduation plan will not be in effect for the 2013-2014 school year.
• However, students who will be sophomores, juniors or seniors during the 2014-2015 school year and are currently following one of the three existing programs will have the option of switching to the Foundation program when it becomes available in the 2014-2015 school year. 
• http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/lake_houston/news/state-board-of-education-seeks-input-on-new-graduation-plans/article_d29e55d4-7e7e-508e-b372-e00e7b17f001.html
•    All students must begin high school on a 26-credit program that includes a specialized focus, such as Arts and Humanities, Business and Industry, or STEM — science, technology, engineering and math. They can opt for a 22-credit plan after their sophomore year with parental consent.
• A student cannot choose to choose to graduate under the Foundation Program until after sophomore year and must get parental consent.
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Junk food people prefer | Infographics

1. how many awards did you win?
2. How many awards did newspaper/yearbook win all together?
3. What does it mean to win a bronze star?
4. How does Akins' usually do at TAJE?
5. What does the bronze star and the numerous individual awards mean to you?

lip dub story

who to interview:

students in different academies

person filming it (matthew??)

reeves or doerr

yearbook kid

newspaper kid

1. What exactly is a "lip dub"?
2. Where did you get the idea of doing a lip dub?
3. Schools all over the country have started to do lip dubs, how would Akins' lip dub differ from other schools?
4. How do you go about organizing the entire school to participate in it?
5. What songs are you using and why? What effected the choice of songs used?
6. Who is mainly in charge of the lip dub?
7. What will happen after the making of the lip dub is complete?
8. When do you plan on making the lip dub?
9. What are you most excited about for it?