1. 8th Grade Parent Information Session 2017-2018
NISD Dual Credit
8th Grade Parent Information Session

2. What is Dual Credit?
Dual Credit allows students to receive academic high school and college credits concurrently.
Dual Credit college course work is taught at the student’s assigned high school campus (some career technology courses are taught at the college).
Dual credit classes are taught by teachers who have a Master’s Degree and are approved by Northwest Vista College (must meet Alamo Community Colleges requirements).
NISD has a memorandum of understanding with Alamo Community College District to offer dual credit to our students, and our teachers meet ACCD requirements to teach dual credit classes. Sometimes Career and Technology courses are taught on the college campus.

3. Dual Credit- House Bill 505
House Bill (HB) Prohibits the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board from limiting the grade level and number of Dual Credit courses a public high school student may register for in a school year.
Note: Students will still be required to follow NISD sequence of course offerings.

4. Advantages of Dual Credit
Provides students the opportunity to enroll in college coursework while in high school and gain college credits.
May decrease the cost of college tuition for students and families.
Students may enter the workforce sooner with certifications and/or degrees.

5. Considerations for Dual Credit
Grades earned will be posted and affect college transcripts.
Too many Dual Credit courses may affect scholarship opportunities.
Too many Dual Credit courses may affect tuition rates and financial aid if the student exceeds 30 college credit hours.
The qualifying process will be discussed later in powerpoint. Students who earn more than 50% of an associate’s degree become transfer students, jeopardizing scholarship opportunities and potentially increasing tuition rate.
Students enrolled in Dual Credit courses should strive to maintain an average of 80.
Speak to your counselor, dean or dual credit liaison if your grade is consistently below a 75.

6. How Do I Qualify for Dual Credit?
Step 1: Complete all prerequisite courses
Step 2: Complete ApplyTexas Application
Step 3: Complete Go FAARR and Test Prep Module
Step 4: Register and take Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Assessment
Step 5: Enroll in Dual Credit courses

7. NO MINIMUM SCORE NEEDED FOR SPANISH III DC
Students must have completed prerequisite courses to be considered for dual credit enrollment.
The Texas Success Initiative Assessment:
Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSI)- college readiness assessment used in the areas of reading, writing and math.
Students must meet a minimum passing college readiness standard (pending the course):
Math:
Reading:
Writing Essay: Score of 4 or 5 or essay and multiple choice of 363
***Please note required minimum entrance scores are subject to change based on phase in standards, which are set by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board ***
NO MINIMUM SCORE NEEDED FOR SPANISH III DC

8. What Is A Prerequisite?
“ A thing that is required as a prior condition for something else to happen or exist”.

9. What Prerequisites Are Needed For 9th Grade Dual Credit Courses?
PREREQUISITE COURSE
DUAL CREDIT COURSE
Algebra II
Pre-Cal Dual or College Algebra Dual
Spanish II
Spanish III, IV, or V Dual
Art I (HS)
Art II Dual
Algebra I
Fundamentals of Computer Science Dual (Principles of Computer Science)
None
Career Tech
CATE courses: do not have a prerequisite for dual credit

10. Do I Have To Complete an Application?
All students must complete an ApplyTexas Application if they wish to enroll in Dual Credit courses.
First time applicants must go to Enroll Texas and complete the ApplyTexas Application.
AlamoENROLL Ready, Set, Apply! - Alamo Colleges
NISD Dual Credit Registration Manual will assist with this process
Registration Manual for 9th Grade Dual Credit Classes
Note: Once the application is completed students will be issued a “Banner ID”, which will be used as their College Identification (ID) number.

11. What Do I Do After I Have My Banner ID?
Students will use their Banner ID to enroll and complete two REQUIRED modules*:
Go FAARR
Test Prep Module
*Once completed, you MUST print the Module Completion Verification and submit to your middle school campus counselor**
March 3rd, students will complete both with Mrs. Clarke
These modules prepare students for the TSI and include practice questions.

12. What’s Next???
Register and take Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Assessment:
TSI Assessment will be given at every middle school starting in March (contact middle school campus for dates).
Students MUST complete the two modules BEFORE they can take the TSI.
Cost of TSI Assessment is ten dollars ($10.00) and will be collected at the middle school campus test site.
April 7, 2017 at Briscoe

13. What Is The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Assessment?
College readiness assessment tool used in the areas of:
Reading
Writing
Math

14. What is the TSI Passing Standard*?
Principles of Law: TSI Assessment: Reading , Writing 363 +w/Essay of 4 or Essay > 5
Fundamentals of Computer Science: TSI Assessment: Reading , Writing 363 +w/Essay of 4 or Essay > 5 and Math
Spanish III: TSI assessment for diagnostic purposes
French III: TSI assessment for diagnostic purposes
Art II: TSI Assessment: Reading , Writing 363 +w/Essay of 4 or Essay > 5
Fundamentals/Principles of Technology: TSI Assessment: Reading , Writing 363 +w/Essay of 4 or Essay > 5 and Math
Digital Interactive Media: TSI assessment for diagnostic purpose only
Note: Required minimum entrance scores are subject to change based on phase-in standards, which are set by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Students who take the TSI for diagnostic purposes only, will be required to re-take the TSI and to earn college level scores for subsequent courses in other areas, i.e. English, Social Studies, Mathematics and Science.

15. Example: 9th Grade Dual Credit Courses*
(Tuition waived for two courses per semester)
High School
courses
Spanish III
Pre AP/Dual*
French III
Principles of Law
Fundamentals/
Principles of Computer Science AP/DC*
Principles of Technology Dual*
Art II
Pre AP/DC*
Digital Interactive Medial Dual*
College courses per semester
SPAN 2311
Fall
SPAN 2312
Spring
FREN 2311
FREN 2312
CRIJ 1301
Fall or Spring
COSC 1315
Fall only
BCIS 1305
ART 1301
IMED 1401
Total college credit hours
Up to 6 3 4
*Note: Not all schools offer certain courses.
Please contact your high school counselor for course availability and college degree guidance.
Remember not all High School will offer Dual Credit Courses for freshman. Each High School will designate the Dual Credit class with a “D” on the course card.

16. When Do I Register For My Dual Credit Courses?
Course Selection:
All students will register for their courses in the spring.
All Dual Credit courses will have a letter “D” next to the course title. Examples:
Spanish III D, Spanish IV D, Spanish V D
College Algebra D or Pre-calculus D
Art II D
Career Tech D
*Not all high schools offer certain courses. Please contact your feeder high school counselor for course availability and endorsement guidance.
Taft and Brennan offer Spanish III D

17. How To Be Successful In Dual Credit Courses?
Five Key Steps For Success:
Be proactive...speak to your teacher when trouble arises
Attend all available tutoring
Create and attend study groups
Develop a study time schedule
Develop strong study habits

18. What Are The Grading Implications for Dual Credit Courses?
Grading scale*
90-100=A
80-89=B
70-79=C
60-69=D
*Note: If a student makes a D or lower in any Dual Credit course (ie, ENGL 1301), they will not be allowed to take the second semester of the Dual Credit course (ie, ENGL 1302). In addition, the student will not be allowed to take ANY Dual Credit courses in the future.

19. What Is The Process To Withdraw From A Dual Credit Course?
Deadline to withdraw from a Dual Credit course is approximately the 11th day of class.*
Process for withdrawing:
Speak to your teacher.
Speak to your Academic Dean, Counselor, or Dual Credit Liaison.
See Counselor for course reassignment upon withdrawing from Dual Credit course.
*If the class is dropped after the college census/withdraw deadline, a grade of W will appear on the college transcript.
This course will count toward the “Three- peat” Rule.
***“Three-peat” Rule - Students who attempt a course for a third or more time will be charged a premium tuition rate.***

20. Important Deadlines February 13, 2017 - Apply Texas Application Due
(Application is available October 15th) *Briscoe deadline, Feb. 10th
March 6, Verification of Applicant Eligibility Form due
*Briscoe modules, March 3rd
April 17, Student admission requirements and initial assessment results due (TSI scores & consent forms) *Briscoe test date, April 7th
June 9, Deadline to submit re-test results
June 9, ISD/School rosters for registration due(high schools need to
have freshman course request by the end of may)
August 21, 2017 First day of class

21. Putting A Winning Touch on Your Future

22. Questions?
Contact your middle school Professional School Counselors, Melissa Clarke (210) / Juazzelyn Barrera (210) /