Previously, Keller ISD partnered with Tarrant County College for college level courses, according to district documents.
The details
KISD switched from Tarrant County College to save parents and the district money, said Bryce Nieman, KISD’s chief communications officer.
The district expects to save $50,000 annually through the new partnership, he said.
“KISD would have saved about $55,000 for the 2024-25 school year if a partnership with Tarleton State had been in place,” Nieman said.
District officials were concerned that they didn’t know how much money families paid for classes at Tarrant County College since textbooks were not included in the overall price, Nieman said. Classes would cost $140-$170 with textbooks and fees if the district partnered with Tarrant County College.
KISD will still work with Tarrant County College for resources associated with the Keller Collegiate Academy, an early college model campus for high schoolers to earn an associates degree, until 2027, per previous reporting.
What you need to know
KISD’s partnership with Tarleton offers a greater variety of math and science courses than Tarrant County College did, Nieman said.
Tarleton’s dual enrollment program will include college-level courses in history, English, math, science and Career and Technical Education courses, said Sven Alskog, Tarleton’s director of university communications.
“High school students experience the rigor and have the opportunity to earn college credit while earning credit for their high school diploma,” Alskog said. “Students have the added benefit of having the support of both their high school teacher as well as college faculty members.”
Students will be charged $50 per course credit, meaning a three-credit course will be $150, according to previous reporting. This fee will cover all course material, technology tools and credit eligibility evaluation. KISD will pay for the fees of students who have free and reduced lunch plans.
Dual enrollment classes will be taught by KISD teachers, per previous reporting. Courses will be taught in KISD classrooms, said Shayla Hoffman, Director of Tarleton Today.
Tarleton dual credit classes are not offered to homeschooled kids, but Hoffman is working to extend those offerings to include online options for home school students within the next two academic years.
What else?
Northwest ISD partners with Tarrant County College, Tarleton State University and McMurry University for dual credit courses, Bobby Morris, NISD’s director of college and career readiness said.
The partnerships offer the district core classes and Career and Technical Education classes including culinary arts and aviation, Morris said.
Tarrant County College allows students to take the courses for free, but students must pass the Texas Success Initiative Assessment, Morris said. Tarleton State University and McMurry do not require the students to pass the test, he said.
“[Dual credit courses] let the students earn college credit while they’re in high school, which is going to limit the amount of years they’re going to spend in college,” Morris said. “It helps save a little bit of money and time and get them into the workforce sooner.”
