Early College Start WELCOME Future ECS Students & Parents

WHAT? Tuition & Fee WAIVED or low cost college credit classes while still in high school!* -To earn high school, college, and/or ACCTech credits *Depends on where a student resides and/or attends a particular ISD

WHAT?  Dual Credit – college course also meets high school graduation requirement (ex. GOVT 2305)  Co-Enrollment – college course not needed for graduation (ex. GOVT 2306)  ACCTech – articulated technical “credit-in- escrow”

WHO? Students who are “Rising Juniors” and have completed their sophomore year Meet TSI/College Readiness requirements established by the State of Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB).

WHEN? Starting the summer after 10 th grade Ending upon graduation Students get a total of 12 course waivers = 36 college credit hours (potentially)

WHERE? ECS Students may take classes at their high school before, during, and after the school day (if offered) ECS Students may also take classes at any ACC campus, Center location, or via Distance Learning

WHY? Save $$$ (potentially 1yr+ of college!) Earn both high school and college credit Gain college-level experience while in high school Stand out on college admission applications Graduate from college early

HOW? See ECS New Student Enrollment Steps handout: Step 1:Application Step 2:ACC 101 Step 2:ACC 101 Step 3:Testing Step 4:Advising Step 5:Registration Step 6:Payment (if applicable)

Very Important Notice for Students & Parents Even when the student is a minor, once they enroll in a postsecondary institution, they are treated as an adult! –FERPA: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (Federal law) –Students “own” their academic records – no one else may have access without written student consent –Parents not automatically entitled to see underage college student records, including absences, grades, and course progress

Very Important Notice for Students –College professors not required to talk with parents; most will interact only with their student –ACC information goes directly to the student via the students ACCmail account (or hard copy/mail) –Course content and student expectations are not altered in any way to accommodate students under 18 –Students pay for textbooks/required materials

Very Important Notice for Students Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) –Students must maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA –Students must complete 67% of classes (Completion Rate) –Courses failed and/or dropped with a ‘W’ count towards SAP –Failure to meet SAP requirements may affect financial aid eligibility once the student graduates from HS and attends a 2yr/4yr college or university

Good News! ECS students do better than traditional students in terms of mean GPA and have better persistence from semester to semester ACC credits transfer seamlessly to Texas public colleges and universities –U.S. Government at ACC = U.S. Government at UT, TAMU, Tx State, etc. ACC credits can transfer widely to Texas private colleges, as well as out-of-state public and private universities

QUESTIONS?

Contact Us Zach Denton Early College Start Specialist Austin Community College 5930 Middle Fiskville Road Austin, TX (512)