Leander ISD students at district high schools may soon have the option to take courses in Mandarin Chinese and IB Design Technology, as well as dual enrollment college algebra and introduction to geoscience with the University of Texas. LISD’s board of trustees considered proposals for all four classes at its meeting Nov. 2. The proposed Mandarin Chinese course would teach students grades 9-12 about the language and culture, including simple characters, according to the agenda packet. District documents state that Chinese is considered a “critical language” because not many people speak it in the United States, but there is demand for professionals who do. If approved, the class could be offered at any of the district’s high schools that can fit it into their catalogs, which could depend on teacher availability and student interest, LISD Superintendent Dan Troxell said. According to district documents, LISD pays $700 per student who takes Chinese online currently, with total online language classes totaling $34,300 for the district. “We are seeing increase interest in this particular course,” said Chrysta Carlin, LISD executive director of secondary curriculum. “It would be great to offer it here as an actual face-to-face course.” The IB Design Technology class proposed to the board would be offered to grades 11-12 as part of Vandegrift’s upcoming International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, which is currently undergoing a validation process, said Tiffany Spicer, LISD executive director of college and career pathways. Two University of Texas OnRamps programs were considered by the board as well. OnRamps is a dual-enrollment program for students interested in earning college and high school credit, according to UT’s website. If approved by the board, district seniors may be able to take an algebra course which could count as an elective or core math course depending on the college the student attends. Grades 11-12 could have the option to take ‘Earth, Wind, and Fire: Introduction to Geoscience.’ The geoscience course teaches the basics of geology and environmental issues and would be a college core credit. Rouse, Cedar Park and Glenn high schools currently offer an OnRamps pre-advanced placement pre-calculus, Carlin said. She said the new classes could be offered at any of the district's high schools that have interest. “Just to see the kids interacting and the work they were doing [in OnRamps], it’s stellar,” said Spicer. The board will not take action on the item until its next meeting, scheduled for Nov. 16.