The Austin High School first semester honor roll will be released for publication and a new policy will be implemented second semester.

The 'A' honor roll list may be completed by today and will be released to local news media first, Brown said.

"I feel comfortable, now, that it's legal," Brown said.

The honor roll falls under "awards," in information about students the school board decides to make public.

The Faculty Curriculum Leadership Group unanimously approved a new policy Monday, which will be included in next year's student handbook, said high school Principal Joe Brown.

The honor roll policy still requires students to be in good standing, a request the AHS student council made to Brown. Students who attend post-secondary classes part-time will now be included on the honor roll. Full-time post-secondary students will not be and never have been eligible, Brown said.

"We actually put together something solid," Brown said. "It's a better policy."

Those who make the 'A' honor roll still need a grade point average of 3.7 or higher and those on the 'B' honor roll need to earn a 3.0 to a 3.699 during the semester.

An honor roll award will be revoked for truancy, cheating, stealing, plagiarism, vandalism, fighting, possession or use of tobacco products or mood altering chemicals, excessive tardiness (10 per class per semester), threatening (terroristic) language or actions, violation of the technology policy, compromising the safety of staff, students, and school, and any violation of the district harassment or discipline policy, according to the policy.

The policy also states that honor roll lists will be made available to news organizations about three weeks after the semester ends.

Students will still receive honor roll certificates in the mail, Brown said.

"My hope someday is that everybody makes it," Brown said, adding that with President George W. Bush's No Child Left Behind policy, that may be possible.

Cari Quam can be reached at 434-2235 or by e-mail at cari.quam@austindailyherald.com