"Caught Off Guard" by Joe Smith - Good Morning

The 08/09 "TEA Student = Attendance Handbook"*=20 (see link at bottom of commentary) states the = following: =93Funding = eligibility for a=20 student taking a dual credit course will include time = instructed in=20 the dual credit course. However, if a student is = required to=20 pay tuition or fees or to buy a textbook to participate in a = course,=20 then your school district may not count the student's = participation=20 in the public school course for state funding purposes.=94 = section=20 from handbook on dual = credit

Rumors have been floating around for at least = two months=20 that there would be significant changes in the funding of = dual=20 credit courses. = On=20 August 6, TEA released the "Students Attendance Handbook" = which=20 contains a new section dealing with students in dual credit=20 courses which states =93The only way a school can = count=20 those students attending dual credit for funding is if the = student=20 does not have to pay tuition or textbooks." This change is=20 significant for school districts that used dual credit ADA = to=20 project state revenue and set schedules for students. =

This change has caught many school districts off = guard. They either did = not know=20 about the potential change or misunderstood the change until = they=20 read the handbook after August 6.. The late release has = frustrated=20 many school officials. Budgets needed to = be amended=20 and schedules changed to be able to count students as full = time for=20 funding purposes. = In=20 addition, it does appear that the districts will get full = funding if=20 they provide four hours of instruction in addition to the = dual=20 credit courses. =20 Therefore, many students would still generate full = time=20 funding even if ADA is not allowed for two = courses.

This change is viewed by state officials as a = clarification=20 of existing law. = I=20 attended the hearings when the = legislature made the=20 decision to double fund dual credit courses; there is no = doubt about=20 the intent. I = remember=20 some of the schools testifing that had developed unique = dual=20 credit programs in=20 conjunction with community colleges. This issue filled the = House=20 Education Committee hearing room with administrators from = across the=20 state. Texas = is a very=20 diverse place and I have no doubt that this clarification = will=20 impact some districts more than others and it appears to me = it may=20 impact small rural districts most.

My concern, beyond the impact of this change, is = that the=20 timing was inconsiderate of the need for districts to plan, = change=20 policy, change handbooks, change schedules and amend budgets = to make=20 accommodations. We will see = from my=20 emails today how many schools out there may not have known = abut this=20 change until after August 6 or are just now=20 learning about the change. =96 js =96 webmaster@texasisd.com

* = 2008-2009 TEA = Student=20 Attendance Handbook

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