Office of the Superintendent of Schools
Office of Academics
title
Authority To Renew Interlocal Partnership Agreement With The University Of Texas At Austin OnRamps For Dual Enrollment Course Offerings
body
This is a request to renew the partnership agreement with The University of Texas at Austin (UT) for dual enrollment (i.e., UT OnRamps) course offerings to students in grades 9-12 within the Houston Independent School District (HISD). These dual enrollment courses are articulated to UT and can count for both high-school and college credit. Students receive college credit for a course upon successfully passing the college portion of the course and are eligible to earn a College, Career, and Military point for Texas Education Agency (TEA) accountability. The partnership agreement term is from June 1, 2025, through August 31, 2026.
HISD anticipates significant enrollment growth with the UT OnRamps program during the 2025-2026 school year, as the following campuses completed an implementation plan that includes dual enrollment classes they intend to offer to HISD students (new campuses for the 2025-2026 school year are in bold type):
• Austin High School (HS)
• Bellaire (HS)
• Challenge Early College (HS)
• Chavez (HS)
• DeBakey (HS) for Health Professions
• East Early College (HS)
• Eastwood Academy
• Energized for STEM Academy
• Furr (HS)
• Houston Academy for International Studies
• Heights (HS)
• High School for Law & Justice
• Jane Long Academy
• Jones Futures Academy
• Kashmere (HS)
• Madison (HS)chool
• Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy for Young Men
• Middle College (HS)-Gulfton
• Milby (HS)
• North Forest (HS)
• North Houston Early College (HS)
• Northside (HS)
• Houston Math, Science, and Technology Center (HS)
• Scarborough (HS)
• Sharpstown (HS)
• Sharpstown International School
• South Early College (HS)
• Sterling Aviation Early College (HS)
• Waltrip (HS)
• Washington (HS)
• Westbury (HS)
• Westside (HS)
• Wheatley (HS)
• Wisdom (HS)
• Worthing (HS)
• Yates (HS)
• Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy
The following courses are offered through the UT OnRamps Program: (New courses for the 2025-2026 school year are in bold type)
• Fundamentals of Arts and Entertainment Technologies
• Introductory Biology I with lab (BIOL 1306) & (BIOL 1106)
• Principles of Chemistry I with lab (CHEM 1311) & (CHEM 1111)
• Principles of Chemistry II with lab (CHEM 1312)
• Introduction to Chemical Practices II with lab (CHEM 1112)
• Computer Science: Thriving in Our Digital World
• Introduction to Economics (ECON 2302)
• Earth, Wind, and Fire: An Introduction to Geoscience
• Issues and Policies in American Government (GOVT 2302)
• United States History, 1492-1865 (HIST 1301)
• United States Since 1865 (HIST 1302)
• College Algebra (MATH 1314)
• Discovery Precalculus (MATH 2312)
• Mechanics, Heat, and Sound with lab (PHYS 1301) & (PHYS 1101)
• Electromagnetism, Optics, and Nuclear Physics (PHYS 1302)
• Introduction to Rhetoric (ENGL 1301)
• Reading and Writing the Rhetoric of American Identities (ENGL 1302)
• Elementary Statistical Methods (MATH 1324)
• Introduction to Quantum Technologies (PHYS 1307)
Each district is responsible for fees as follows:
• $550 in professional learning institute expenses for each new OnRamps teacher (virtual or local hybrid)
• $250 in professional learning institute expenses for each returning OnRamps teacher (virtual or local hybrid)
• $175.56 tuition and course materials expense per 3-hour course for each student. If subsidized funding is available, the cost will be $149 per 3-hour course. Under the Financial Aid for Swift Transfer (FAST) program, students eligible for free/reduced lunch will cost $0 per course.
• $10,673.80 in required lab materials in each Chemistry I course.
• $9,687.67 in required lab materials in each Chemistry II course.
• $7,249.55 in required lab materials in each Physics I course.
• $4,293.62 in required lab materials in each Biology I course.
|
COST/FUNDING SOURCE(S): |
The total cost for this program is not expected to exceed $600,000 over the 2025-2026 academic year. |
|
|
|
|
STAFFING IMPLICATIONS: |
None |
|
|
|
THIS ITEM DOES NOT ESTABLISH, MODIFY, OR DELETE BOARD POLICY.
recommendation
RECOMMENDED: That the School Board authorizes the superintendent of schools or a designee to renew an interlocal agreement renewal with UT Austin OnRamps for dual enrollment course offerings, effective June 13, 2025.