Waller High School
Dual Credit Agreement Addendum
This addendum ("Addendum") is entered into by and between Blinn College District ("Blinn") and Waller Independent School District ("ISD") and incorporates the following language into the existing Dual Credit Agreement without altering any other terms, except as provided herein, within the Agreement:
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 to these students. The Texas Education Code (TEC) defines “educationally disadvantaged” as those students eligible for the national free/reduced price lunch program. These students are referred to as FAST eligible students.
Students are “eligible students” under the FAST program if they:
- Are enrolled in an eligible dual credit course at a public school district or charter school; and
- Were qualified for free or reduced-price lunch in any of the four school years before enrolling in the dual credit course.
By statute, the FAST program requires that FAST eligible students at participating institutions incur no cost for their dual credit coursework. A FAST eligible student will not pay tuition and fees for an eligible dual credit course. Books, supplies, and other course materials must also be provided at no cost to a FAST eligible student.
Dual Credit Courses eligible for FAST funding are those offered through either TEC, Section 130.008, Courses for Joint High School and Junior College Credit (see Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 4, Subchapter D, Rules 4.81-4.85), or other courses offered by a public institution of higher education for which a high school student may earn credit. By statute, the courses must also satisfy at least one of the following:
- A requirement necessary to obtain an associate degree or an industry-recognized credential or certificate (using the definition of industry-recognized credential or certificate that is established for other parts of House Bill 8)
- A foreign language requirement at an institution of higher education
- A core curriculum requirement
- A field of study requirement
Eligibility for the FAST program is determined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). Each semester, Blinn is required to submit a roster of dual credit students to THECB for verification of FAST eligibility. In order to prepare and submit this roster, the ISD agrees to identify and verify to Blinn the students enrolling in P-TECH that meet the eligibility requirements for the FAST program. This verification shall occur by August 5th.
FAST Program Student Enrollment Requirements
Students are eligible to enroll at no cost in a dual credit course under the FAST program if the student meets the following:
- Is enrolled in high school in a school district or charter school.
- Is enrolled in dual credit course at a participating institution of higher education.
- Was educationally disadvantaged at any time during the four school years preceding the student’s enrollment in the dual credit course described above.
Blinn and the ISD will work together to verify FAST-eligible students and dual credit eligibility for each student. For non-FAST eligible students enrolled in Dual Credit, the ISD will be charged no more than the State of Texas approved tuition rate for the current academic year.
Dual Credit Cost Structure
- Blinn will not charge tuition and general fees for all dual credit students (FAST and non-FAST) of the ISD.
- The ISD will continue to pay for the biology lab fees and provide laptops for dual credit students of the ISD.
- Blinn and the ISD will use their best efforts to obtain third-party funding to cover the cost of textbooks for all FAST eligible dual credit students of the ISD. However, if no such third-party funding is received, Blinn will cover sixty percent (60%) and the ISD will cover forty percent (40%) of the cost of textbooks for all FAST eligible dual credit students of the ISD.
The parties will work together to develop and provide information to students and parents about the FAST program.
Effective Date
This addendum is effective upon signature and shall remain in effect through the length of the lifetime of the Agreement.
Acceptance
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Addendum as of the dates indicated below.
- Blinn College District
- Mary Hensley, Ed.D., Chancellor
Signed: ___________________________
Date: 9/16/24 - Waller Independent School District
- Kevin Moran, Superintendent
Signed: ___________________________
Date: 9/19/2024