Brazosport ISD continues to lead as a District of Innovation by offering additional innovative Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses and dual credit (high school and college credit) opportunities for our students through a partnership with Brazosport College. During the regular January Board meeting, members unanimously approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) renewal with Brazosport College (BC) as presented by BISD Deputy Superintendent Brian Cole.
The MOU renewal changes funding for dual credit courses and reflects a commitment to providing accessible education for all students. House Bill 8, Financial Aid for Swift Transfer (FAST) from the state, mandates that all economically disadvantaged students who are qualified to enroll in dual credit courses will receive free tuition, fees, and books. Within the memorandum, BC also lowered the cost of tuition for non-economically disadvantaged students to just $55 per credit hour, with the district picking up the expense of two courses each semester, a 40% savings from the previous year and saving the district approximately $150,000.
Through the renewed partnership with BC, the introduction of new dual credit pathways in Health Informatics, Cybersecurity, HVAC, and Construction Management Areas is exciting. These pathways not only align with current workforce opportunities but also provide students with the chance to continue their education after high school graduation.
“The new and realigned dual credit pathways include courses designated by TEA as Innovative Courses, which includes Internetworking Technologies I; Medical Intervention Evaluation and Research, and Computer-Aided Drafting for Architecture, add a forward-thinking dimension to the educational offerings,” stated Deputy Superintendent Brian Cole. “The flexibility to approve courses not developed by the state of Texas allows for a broader range of educational opportunities for all students who qualify for dual credit coursework.”
College-level dual credit science courses have been updated to reflect an articulation of Specialized Topics in Science instead of Scientific Research and Design. This newly available course is more closely aligned articulation of student learning.
The agreement for educational services correspondingly continues to provide for shared dual credit counselors. The agreement for educational services, including the provision for adult ESL (English as a Second Language) and HSE (High School Equivalency) courses in the evenings, allows the use of district facilities. These adult programs assist in providing a comprehensive and supportive educational environment for parents and community members. These programs highlight the commitment of BISD and Brazosport College to serve the diverse educational needs of our community.
Through our partnership with Brazosport College, we continue to take significant steps in providing innovative and accessible educational opportunities for students, fostering their success in both high school and beyond, said Superintendent Danny Massey.
BISD has worked collaboratively with Brazosport College to align our CTE coursework to college dual credit programs. This partnership continues to bring opportunities for our students to earn certifications providing extensive opportunities for our students to have a 16-18 hour head start on an Associate Degree in these fields upon high school graduation.
Through this MOU partnership, BISD and BC continue to take significant steps in providing innovative and accessible educational opportunities for students, fostering their success in both high school and beyond.