What began two years ago as a vision by Superintendent Dr. Reece Blincoe, the Brownwood ISD Dual Credit program has now blossomed into a reality at Brownwood High School.
“We have a perfect trifecta of opportunities,” said Director of College and Career Readiness, Sandra Richardson. “Howard Payne University, Ranger College, and Texas State Technical College are all working in conjunction with Brownwood High School to educate and prepare students for their futures.”
Juniors and seniors receive both high school and college credit for all courses taken within the Dual Credit Program. Classes range from English Composition, Government, and College Algebra, to Forensic Science, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development, Principles of Wind Energy, and Digital Imaging. To help them prepare for upcoming semesters, counselors meet with students to discuss career and educational opportunities and help them begin the registration process.
If the student has the right qualifications — a certain level of score on the TAKS, ACT, or SAT tests — then a custom set of courses are lined up for each student to prepare for his or her chosen path of continuing education, whether it be an associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, or licensing in a particular vocation.
A student may take up to two dual credit courses per semester, with prices ranging from $60 to $250 per course; what makes the program possible are the various locations available — online, the HPU campus, and even at the High School.
“As an educator, what I love about the program is that students get a chance to see that college is possible,” Richardson said. “The students mix in with college students and they see the whole experience. It’s eye-opening, because college is not the same as high school, but it is great for them.”
Richardson also explains other benefits of the program, such as an increased GPA, saving on future education costs, and possible early graduation. If students begin participation in the program as juniors, they could be finished with their basic college courses before graduating from high school. Students who participate in the program are also given the benefit of additional study time with each other and quite often their professors. Dr. Kenneth Word, Professor of Mathematics at HPU, brought along several student tutors who all voluntarily worked with students during their study hall period to ensure the dual credit students understood the material.
“It’s been fantastic for the students,” Richardson said. “I don’t know how many colleges would do that.”
With the Dual Credit Program expanding and developing, over 120 students will earn credits this semester, and an expected 135+ next semester. For those who graduate with 30 or more college hours, they earn the recognition of being a Lonestar Scholar, the special honor for Brownwood students that not only earns them cords to wear, but distinction at the graduation ceremony. For those who participate in a certain amount of courses from TSTC, a Technical Skills Mastery Certification is presented, a certification which can not only be used on a resume, but can be used to advance students entering the technical field at an entry level.
“The list of benefits to the program never ends,” Richardson said. “And once kids see others being successful, they want to do it too.”
