AUSTIN — State Board of Education members are expected to discuss a proposed rule today that would allow high school athletes to receive twice as much credit toward graduation as allowed under current requirements.

The proposal — allowing four years of sports to count for credit instead of two — appears to have the support of several board members who will decide whether to move ahead on the idea.

Backers, including the Texas High School Coaches Association, contend that new graduation requirements calling on students to do more coursework discriminates against student athletes by slicing the time available for participation in sports.

Under the new state requirements — which took effect with freshmen last year — students need four years each of math, science, English and social studies — the so-called 4x4 core courses — along with their electives and a handful of other required classes such as two years of foreign language and 16 and 1/2 years of physical education.

In all, the number of credits needed to get a diploma will increase from 24 to 26 for students graduating in 2011.

Students can now get up to two years of credit for participation in sports, which meets the current requirement of 1 and 1/2 years of physical education and also a half year toward elective course requirements. A credit is equal to one year of instruction in a subject.

Also this afternoon, a board committee is expected to take up guidelines for a proposed elective Bible course that will be available in Texas high schools in the fall of 2009.