Brownwood ISD is working to implement a new program where graduating seniors will be able to simultaneously earn an associate’s degree through a partnership with Ranger College.
Dr. Bill Campion, president of Ranger College, unveiled the plan to Brownwood ISD school board trustees on Monday, a plan developed by BISD Superintendant Reece Blincoe, school counselor Sheila Senkirik, and Ranger College staff.
“This plan will allow your students, who are capable, to not only graduate from high school, but have the chance to earn an associate’s degree at the same time they graduate from high school,” Campion said. “Now they are going to have to work hard, they are going to have to be involved in summer school, but this is incredible.”
Campion credited Brownwood ISD Superintendent Reece Blincoe with primarily putting the idea together and getting it set to implement at the high school.
“We are really, really excited to partner with Brownwood ISD and Dr. Blincoe who is the architect for this whole idea,” Campion said. “This is an innovative thing, I think it will not only be a good thing for Brownwood, but there are many, many other schools who are out there watching it.”
More than 100 Brownwood High School students are currently enrolled in dual credit courses through Ranger College, and this new proposed program would expand on that.
“What it would be is an associate’s degree by the time a kid walks across the stage and graduates from high school,” Blincoe said.
He said that students who participate in the program would take classes through both summer sessions at the conclusion of their sophomore year. Their junior year, they would take three courses in the fall and the spring. They would then take both summer sessions with courses between junior and senior year. They would then take three classes in the fall and spring of their senior year.
Blincoe said that most of the classes would be dual credit and would count towards the associate’s degree and high school credit.
“If all goes as planned, we will put this in place starting this summer and we will try to get some kids on that path to their associate’s degree and continue after that as well,” Blincoe said. “We hope someday that a sixth of our students reach the associate’s degree before they graduate.”
Blincoe said that this would not only help the students get a jump in entering the workforce, but could speed up the process if students wanted to continue in higher education.
“This would allow a student who left here with a degree to essentially go get a bachelor’s degree in two years if they wanted to,” Blincoe said.
Campion said that overall, the cost to participate in dual credit courses through Ranger College is affordable, and that a plan is moving forward to cut those costs even more in the near future.
“Dual enrollment currently costs $80 a semester hour,” Campion said. “When Brown County becomes part of the Ranger College taxing district, it will cost $25 a semester hour. Tuition will be cut by 50% and that tax rate will be no greater than 15 cents per $100 valuation when that takes place.”
Brown County residents will have to vote in a future election to approve such a taxing district.
Although the new proposed program is not finalized, BISD administration officials are hoping this will be implemented this summer.
“It certainly puts the rigor and the relevance back into the education system, and it will push these kids to a large extent,” Blincoe said.
