More and more area high school students are benefiting from dual credit classes and legislation to make it an even better deal.
Here is a Press Release from Texarkana College:
The Texarkana College Board of Trustees met on Monday for their regular meeting. Trustees heard a report from Dr. Dixon Boyles, Vice President of Instruction, on the growing opportunities for area students to earn college credit while enrolled in high school through TC’s Dual Credit program. Dr. Boyles explained that a new state funding model for higher education (House Bill 8) was passed during the 88th Texas Legislative Session. One component of the new legislation now provides educationally disadvantaged high school students with financial aid to enroll in dual credit courses at no cost to them.
“We are so excited that the new state funding model now provides free dual credit classes to economically disadvantaged students through the Financial Aid for Swift Transfer (FAST) scholarship,” said Dr. Boyles. “This is the first semester at TC under the new model, and we have over 1000 FAST scholarship students taking classes
this fall.”The Texas Education Code defines “educationally disadvantaged” as those students eligible for the national free/reduced-price lunch program. A student who meets this requirement in any of the four school years prior to the academic year in which the student is enrolled in the eligible dual credit course may be eligible for the
FAST program.Dr. Boyles said that participation in dual credit courses has always been an excellent value for high school students and TC has seen a growing interest in enrollment through the years. “Dual credit creates tremendous opportunities for students to accelerate their path to a workforce credential or college degree which greatly increases their likelihood of finding a job that pays a living wage,” said Dr. Boyles. “Since 2021, enrollment in dual credit courses has increased by more than twenty-five percent, and, with access to the FAST scholarship, we expect even more students to enroll than ever before.”
Dr. Boyles said that even if a high school student is not eligible for the FAST scholarship, the tuition rate has been capped at $55 per semester credit hour as part of the new legislation. “TC provides affordable opportunities for students of all ages to earn a college degree or credential,” said Dr. Boyles. “For students who wait to attend college after high school, our tuition and fees are still one of the lowest options in northeast Texas, and more than seventy-five percent of TC students receive financial aid, grants, or scholarships.”
Texarkana College’s second fall term for academic courses begins October 16, and registration is open now. For more information about tuition, fees, and course availability visit the college website.