Brazos Christian School
AGREEMENT FOR THE BLINN COLLEGE DISTRICT DUAL CREDIT PROGRAM
This Agreement for the Blinn College District Dual Credit Program (“Agreement”) is by and between BLINN COLLEGE DISTRICT, a public community college established under Chapter 130 of the Texas Education Code and a political subdivision of the State of Texas (“College”), and: Brazos Christian School, a Texas public independent school district and political subdivision of the State of Texas (“District”) with an effective date of June 1, 2024 (“Effective Date”). Individually, the College and the District are referred to herein as “Party” and collectively as “Parties.”
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Texas Education Code (TEC) §§ 28.009, 29.182, 29.184, and 130.008; and 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter 4, Subchapter D and Chapter 9, Subchapter H authorize an institution of higher education to contract with a public school district for the provision of instruction resulting in dual credit received by a student for such course;
WHEREAS, the College and the District desire to establish a dual credit program (“Dual Credit Program”) to be operated as part of the District’s Brazos Christian School, high school (“School”);
NOW THEREFORE, for the mutual promises and covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the Parties agree as follows:
SECTION 1. GENERAL CRITERIA
A. Blinn College District (College)
- The College will designate a leadership team to be in charge of the management and supervision of the Dual Credit Program.
- The College service area includes the following thirteen counties: Austin, Brazos, Burleson, Fayette, Grimes, Lee, Madison, Waller and Washington Counties and parts of Milam, Montgomery, Robertson and Walker Counties.
- The College will ensure that dual credit courses follow the same quality, sequencing, content, and rigor as those courses taught to the institution’s other students. [Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) standard].
- In accordance with Applicable Law, the College will offer dual credit courses listed in the current edition of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s (THECB) Lower Division Academic Course Guide Manual (ACGM) and Workforce Education Course Manual (WECM). Courses offered in each semester shall be determined by the College and agreed upon by the District/School. Courses provided by the College under this Agreement shall be consistent with the educational purpose, mission, and goals of the College and shall be under the direct control of the College. Developmental courses are not available to dual credit students. Kinesiology courses that count towards the high school graduation physical education requirement will not be offered to dual credit students.
- Dual credit courses may be offered during any semester in a location and classroom mutually agreed upon by the School and College. The College will seek every opportunity to use the available technology as appropriate to support dual credit sites.
- The District is responsible for ensuring that dual credit courses meet the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) requirements. A course equivalency crosswalk will be used to equate high school courses with college courses. Such crosswalk identifies the number of credits that may be earned for each course completed through the Dual Credit Program. It will also provide an alignment of endorsements offered by the District and its corresponding dual credit course. As per SB 1276 from 2019, endorsements offered by the District, and dual credit courses offered under the agreement that apply towards those endorsements shall be aligned with postsecondary pathways and credentials at the institution and industry certifications. Information on postsecondary pathways and industry certifications are available on the College website under Degree Programs. The TEA graduation Toolkit offers information on graduation, college and career resources among others, and can be used as a reference by counselors, students, and families. See Appendix F, Dual Credit Course Crosswalk.
- All College prerequisites must be met and all College course sequencing shall be followed.
- A participating student’s satisfactory academic performance in a course provided under the Dual Credit Program shall be determined in accordance with College Board Policy EGA(LOCAL), which is attached in Appendix A.
- The College reserves the right to set a minimum number of students for enrollment in each course. If this minimum is not met, the College reserves the right to cancel the course.
- The College strongly encourages dual credit students taking classes online to have an in-school time scheduled to work with a high school proctor.
B. The School
- The School is responsible for providing a learning atmosphere and classroom facilities comparable to the ones offered on the College campus, regardless of modality of instruction.
- The School will provide instructional technology and other auxiliary equipment typically used in support of classroom instruction.
- The School will provide facilities, personnel, and equipment to meet the particular requirements for the online/internet, Interactive Video Conference (IVC). Appendix B describes video class regulations.
- The School will assign professional-level personnel, as applicable and as agreed upon between the Parties, who will be responsible for identifying, advising, and verifying prospective students’ eligibility to participate in the Dual Credit Program in accordance with Applicable Law.
- The School will assign trained professional-level personnel, as applicable and as agreed upon between the Parties, to assist with College registration functions, including but not limited to, completing and collecting appropriate admissions forms, and collecting student documentation.
- The School/District will initiate the process for course accommodations due to a disability by providing students with documentation outlining required accommodations and services under an Individual Education Plan (IEP). It is the student’s responsibility to provide the IEP documentation from the School/District to the Office of Disability Services (ODS) at the College. Upon receipt of the School/District IEP documentation from the student, the College’s ODS will provide a verification form listing the required classroom accommodations to the student. The student is responsible for presenting the verification form from the College’s ODS to the instructor and making the necessary arrangements for accommodations with the instructor. Instructors are not allowed to provide classroom accommodation to a student until appropriate verification from the College’s ODS has been provided.
- If the College grading scale differs from the District’s grading scale, the District/School will provide participating students with a comparative document displaying both the College grading scale and the District’s grading scale. See Appendix A.
- Although a student may pass a College class with a grade of D, the District/School will be responsible for communicating to students and parents that under 19 TAC § 74.26(c), credit for courses for high school graduation may be earned only if the student received a grade which is the equivalent of 70 on a scale of 100. College personnel will not be expected to communicate with parents. See Appendix A.
- Dual credit students are not affected by the provisions of TEC §51.907. Therefore, dual credit students with Q drops will be recorded as a W and will not be penalized as one of the allowed six-state-drops.
C. Applicable Law
- The Parties agree to operate the Dual Credit Program and perform their obligations under this Agreement in compliance with the applicable federal, State, and local laws, implementing regulations, executive orders, interpreting authorities, and administrative rules and requirements, including, but not limited to:
- Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title VII of the Civil Rights Act; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1974; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Americans with Disabilities Act; the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA); Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965; and Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act;
- The Texas constitution;
- Applicable provisions of the Texas Education Code;
- State and federal laws regarding the reporting of any and all alleged child abuse, school-related crimes, and sexual molestation of students;
- State record retention laws;
- Applicable provisions of Title 19 of the Texas Administrative Code, including, without limitation, Chapter 4, Subchapters D and Chapter 9, Subchapter H;
- TEA guidelines and requirements, including, the Student Attendance Accounting Handbook and the Financial Accountability System Resource Guide;
- THECB guidelines and requirements;
- Rules, regulations, and requirements imposed by accrediting agencies applicable to either Party, including, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
- The Parties agree:
- To certify that their sites are Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant;
- To comply with all applicable provisions of the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. §1232g;
- In all cases, to comply with all federal, state, and local laws applicable to this MOU;
- To have in place and abide by policy prohibiting discrimination, including harassment, based on sex, race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, or any other basis prohibited by law.
Blinn College District Notice of Nondiscrimination
Blinn College District does not discriminate on the basis of sex and prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and its regulations, including in admission and employment.
Inquiries about Title IX may be referred to the College’s Title IX Coordinator, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, or both. The College’s Title IX Coordinator is:
- Dr. Adrienne McCain, Title IX Coordinator
- 902 College Avenue, Brenham, Texas 77833
Administration Building Room 219
adrienne.mccain@blinn.edu
979-830-4216
Blinn College District's nondiscrimination policy and grievance procedures can be located at www.blinn.edu/title-ix/index.html. To report information about conduct that may constitute sex discrimination or make a complaint of sex discrimination under Title IX, see: https://www.blinn.edu/title-ix/reporting-information.html.
The College will investigate all Title IX complaints or concerns that arise in dual credit courses. The College and the District will work collaboratively and timely to share all information necessary in the event of an investigation of a personnel matter. Ownership of the Title IX investigation will depend on the location in which the incident occurred.
Blinn College District Statement of Nondiscrimination
The College prohibits discrimination, including harassment, against any employee on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, or any other basis prohibited by law. Retaliation against anyone involved in the complaint process is a violation of College District policy. For more information, please see College Board Policy DIAB.
Blinn College District Statement on Parenting Services
Any student who, because of their pregnancy or parenting status, may require special arrangements in order to meet the course requirements should contact the Parenting Services Office. Please note that the instructor is not allowed to provide classroom accommodations to a student until verification from the Parenting Services Office has been provided.
SECTION 2. DUAL CREDIT ADMISSION STUDENT’S REQUIRED ACTIONS
- Students may attend the College during the semester in which the student demonstrates readiness for College-level courses or otherwise is eligible in accordance with Applicable Law. The following requirements for admission must be met:
- Obtaining written or electronic permission from the high school principal or the principal’s designee. All steps for approval are outlined on the Dual Credit Approval Form, as set forth in Appendix C.
- Earning a "B" or better average in all high school work attempted, or a C for WECM trades courses. If the student has a lower average, they must obtain a written letter from the principal or the principal’s designee stating why the College should allow them into the course(s). Upon receiving this letter, the College will determine if the student will be allowed to register.
- Completing a College Application for admission through ApplyTexas.
- Meeting the following requirements of Applicable Law:
- Have satisfied current TSI criteria for dual credit as determined by the THECB. Scores, exemptions, or waivers must be furnished by the District/School or the student on an official document prior to registration. See Dual Credit Eligibility.
- Proof of Bacterial Meningitis Vaccine. The College, in compliance with TEC § 51.9192, requires the bacterial meningitis vaccination for all new students enrolling in classes after January 1, 2012. This does not apply for students enrolled in the Dual Credit Program who will take classes exclusively at a School facility or completely online. Dual credit students taking classes in-person on any Blinn College Campus must provide proof of the meningitis vaccination. See Immunization Information for more details.
- Students enrolled in private or non-accredited secondary schools, or who are homeschooled must meet all admission requirements set forth in this Agreement.
SECTION 3. CLASSES AND SCHEDULES
- Prior to the start of each semester, the College will coordinate and finalize the proposed course schedule with the School in a timely manner. To facilitate meeting College faculty and course scheduling deadlines, the School will submit the anticipated number of students per course for the next school year by May 1st prior to the beginning of that school year. The School will submit the proposed course schedule for the next school year by July 20th prior to the beginning of that school year.
- All high school students enrolled in a College academic dual credit class will follow the official College calendar regardless of dual credit class location, course instructional modality, or District/School calendar. Neither the College nor the District/School shall cancel a class unless it is absolutely necessary.
- A student participating in the Dual Credit Program may take the number of academic classes permitted by Applicable Law. The College’s Dual Credit Program administrator will confer with the School’s/District’s representative under the Dual Credit Program to confirm such standards. See also Appendix C.
- Academic dual credit courses must be taught in classes composed (1) solely of academic dual credit students; or (2) of both dual credit students and advanced placement students. In the case of technical classes being approved as an articulated course, the dual credit class can include a combination of technical dual credit students, college credit students, and/or local articulation students.
- For the College to provide face-to-face instruction for an academic dual credit course on the School's or another high school campus, the campus must be within a reasonable commuting distance from a College campus. A minimum class size will be required. The College will not be responsible for and will not provide transportation.
- If the College provides face-to-face instruction on the School’s campus, students may not take the same course online, except under extenuating circumstances, as determined by the Divisional Dean.
SECTION 4. FACULTY
- Faculty assigned to College dual credit courses follow the same requirements for credentialing guidelines posted by the College. Each new dual credit instructor who is a District/School employee or is not otherwise a College employee will be required to follow the same hiring procedures as any College faculty member, including application, interview, teaching demonstration, credentialing review, and background check. All dual credit faculty shall complete an orientation session as required by the College and the academic division.
- Approved District Dual Enrollment Faculty teaching Dual Enrollment courses will do so as part of their regular high school teaching assignment and will be responsible for following all applicable District, School, and College regulations and procedures.
- The faculty teaching dual credit courses will be compensated as set forth in Section 6, below.
- The College’s academic leadership will have responsibility for the oversight, supervision, administration, and evaluation of the instructional delivery provided by each instructor teaching a dual credit course under this Agreement. These responsibilities include faculty credentialling, curricular discussions, and assessment/evaluation activities including course evaluation and program/course assessment processes.
SECTION 5. FACILITIES
- Per SACSCOC accreditation guidelines, dual credit courses are offered in adequate physical facilities, whether under the control of the College or under the control of the School. The College will assess the facility prior to the beginning of instruction and periodically review facilities to ensure compliance.
- College and District/School representatives at each site will assess the facilities, determine the class size, and select the instructional modality.
SECTION 6. FINANCIAL AID FOR SWIFT TRANSFER (FAST) PROGRAM
The state of Texas has created the Financial Aid for Swift Transfer (FAST) program which provides funding to colleges so they can offer dual credit courses to educationally disadvantaged students at no cost. The Texas Education Code defines educationally disadvantaged as those eligible for the national free/reduced price lunch program. These students are referred to as FAST eligible students.
- Students are eligible if enrolled in an eligible dual credit course at a public school district or charter school and qualified for free/reduced-price lunch in any of the four school years before enrolling in the dual credit course.
- FAST eligible students will not pay tuition, fees, books, supplies, or course materials.
- The College and District/School will collaborate on identifying FAST eligibility each semester.
- Non-FAST eligible students enrolled in dual credit courses will be charged $56.87 per scheduled credit hour per course or the State of Texas approved tuition rate for the current academic year.
SECTION 7. TUITION
Students enrolled in dual credit courses under the Dual Credit Program will pay tuition for ACGM and WECM dual credit courses as follows:
- Option 1: If an instructor who is a College or District employee provides dual credit instruction, a NON-FAST student pays the State of Texas approved tuition rate.
- Option 2: If a qualified and approved instructor employed by the District is utilized for a course and the College does not pay a faculty overload rate, a NON-FAST student pays $20 per credit hour. Additionally, the District receives a $500 reimbursement per course section. Minimum 8 students required.
- Option 3: If a qualified and approved instructor employed by the District is utilized for a technical (WECM) dual credit course and the College pays no compensation, tuition for each student enrolled is waived (NO COST to the student).
Tuition and fees are subject to change as established by the College’s Board of Trustees or the State of Texas.
SECTION 8. COLLEGE FACULTY COMPENSATION
- Full-time College faculty are compensated per their contract.
- College adjunct instructors are compensated based on the rate for the course.
SECTION 9. SYLLABUS, CURRICULUM, SUPPLIES, AND TEXTBOOKS
- Dual credit instruction must be the same curriculum, materials, grading, and rigor as all College classes.
- A College Common Syllabus must be posted in Concourse for each dual credit course.
- Dual Credit courses will use identical or equivalent textbooks as on campus. The College is not responsible for providing textbooks. Use of free or low-cost open educational resources must be considered. The District provides cost of books/resources for FAST eligible students.
SECTION 10. LIBRARY AND LEARNING RESOURCES
Dual credit students and instructors may use the library resources offered by the School or any College campus, including online resources. Services are identical to those provided to all College students and instructors.
SECTION 11. ACADEMIC ADVISING AND STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES
A. Advising
- The College will provide adequate instructional support services, including advising and counseling.
- The District/School will fully comply with state advising mandates and requirements for transfer and degree planning.
- The designated academic advising contact for dual credit: Shannon Williford, Director, Dual Credit Programs, 979-209-8218, shannon.williford@blinn.edu
B. Support Services
Dual credit students may use the computer labs, writing centers, and learning centers on any College campus.
SECTION 12. STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT
- Dual credit students must comply with College policies including the Student Code of Conduct as outlined in the College Catalog (catalog.blinn.edu).
- Students must comply with College academic integrity regulations (catalog.blinn.edu).
- If asked to leave the classroom because of uncivil behavior, students may not return to class until arranging a conference with the instructor.
SECTION 13. FUNDING AND PAYMENT
- Tuition and fee payments are due at registration; failure to pay will result in being dropped from classes.
- Financial Aid is not available to dual credit students.
- State funding for dual credit courses may be available to both the District/School and the College based on current funding rules.
- If a student requests to take a class more than twice, they are responsible for tuition and an additional fee per semester hour. Technical courses and FAST-eligible students are exempt from this fee.
- The College is not responsible for transporting dual credit students.
SECTION 14. RECORDS AND REPORTING
- Class rosters listing names and grades of dual credit students will be provided to the School each semester.
- Both Parties will maintain and exchange necessary student records in conformity with Texas Record Retention laws. Parties designate one another as agents with a legitimate educational interest under FERPA.
- Dual credit courses should be transcripted for high school and college credit immediately upon student’s completion of course requirements.
SECTION 15. CONFLICT RESOLUTION
Conflicts should be resolved at the lowest level possible, with written summaries of discussions and clear communication. Administrative liaisons will be designated for both the campus and College. Escalation procedures are outlined leading up to respective legal counsel if needed.
SECTION 16. TERM AND TERMINATION
- The Agreement is effective from the Effective Date to the end of the second summer semester of 2027. May be extended by mutual written agreement.
- This Agreement may be terminated by either Party with written notice no later than 60 days prior to the end of the current semester. Termination will not affect currently enrolled students until they complete their dual credit courses.
SECTION 17. GENERAL CONTRACT TERMS
- This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement. Amendments must be in writing and signed by both Parties.
- Governed by the laws of the State of Texas; venue is Washington County, Texas.
- All notices must be given in writing and delivered as defined in the Agreement.
- Relationship is that of independent contractors; no partnership or joint venture is created.
- No waiver of rights by either Party unless in writing; no assignment without written consent.
- If any provision is invalid, the remainder remains valid.
- No third-party rights are created.
- May be executed in counterparts; electronic/facsimile signatures permissible.
SECTION 18: LIST OF APPENDICES
The following appendices are attached to and incorporated into this Blinn College Dual Credit Program Agreement:
- Appendix A: Board Policy EGA(LOCAL) and Current College Procedures for Grading and Credit
- Appendix B: Dual Credit Approval Form
- Appendix C: Notice of Reimbursement of Services
- Appendix D: Dual Credit Course Crosswalk
- Appendix E: Advising Terminology
- Appendix F: Dual Credit Statewide Goals
EXECUTION
Executed by the Parties as of the Effective Date of ____________________, 2024 by:
- BLINN COLLEGE DISTRICT
Mary Hensley, Ed.D., Chancellor
Date: ______________________ - Name of School
Date: ______________________
APPENDIX B: Dual Credit Approval Form
2024-25 Dual Credit/Early Admission Course Approval Form
- Name of Student:
- ____________________
- Blinn ID:
- ____________________
- High School:
- ____________________
- Class of:
- ____________________
I agree to these provisions of admission and enrollments hereby listed for consideration of the student’s acceptance and understand he/she must abide by the rules and regulations of the Blinn College District. I understand the student may be exposed to adult material in the classroom and open laboratories, including libraries, learning centers, and computer labs.
I understand that once the student is registered in a college course he/she is under the rules of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and I may not have access to my student’s records without his/her written permission on the FERPA release form.
- Student Signature & Date
- Parent/Guardian Signature & Date
Course Request
| Course Name | Semester | CRN | Day/Time |
|---|---|---|---|
For academic dual credit, I certify the student has attained an 80 or better average on all schoolwork attempted. For technical dual credit, I certify the student has attained a 70 or better average on all schoolwork attempted.
- Signature of High School Principal or Designee
- Signature of College Designee
- Date
APPENDIX D: Dual Credit Course Crosswalk
*High School course is subject to change. Alignment of high school course is determined and approved by the High School. Each school district determines which courses they will offer as dual credit.
| Course Number | Blinn College Course Title | High School TEKS Course | College Credit | Endorsement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECON 2301 | Principles of Macroeconomics | Economics | 3 | All Areas |
| SPCH 1311 | Intro to Speech Communication | Public Speaking | 3 | All Areas |
| ENGL 1301 | Composition I | English III or English IV | 3 | All Areas |
APPENDIX E: Advising Terminology
- Advanced Placement (AP)
- College level coursework designed by the College Board which provides students the potential to earn college credit with a qualifying score on an AP exam.
- Advising
- Individualized academic guidance for students to help them succeed in their future education and career goals.
- College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
- A program in which students can earn credit by examination by taking the CLEP exam.
APPENDIX F: Statewide Dual Credit Goals
- Goal 1: Implement purposeful and collaborative outreach efforts to inform all students and parents of benefits and costs of dual credit, including enrollment and fee policies.
- Collaboration between ISDs and Blinn College Dual Credit Program to host informational sessions.
- Prospective Student Relations Advisors provide info at high school and community events.
- High School Counselor Workshops for area high school counselors.
- Goal 2: Assist high school students in successful transition to and acceleration through postsecondary education.
- Analysis of enrollment and persistence measures.
- College tours and registration events offered to students.
- Goal 3: All dual credit students will receive academic and college readiness advising.
- Advising and career counseling offered to all dual credit students.
- Access to College support resources and centers.
- Goal 4: Quality and rigor of dual credit courses will be sufficient to ensure success in subsequent courses.
- Dual Credit follows same curriculum, materials, grading, and rigor in all classes.