Agreement between RGV’s Five Higher Ed. Institutions and local ISDs is the first of its kind in Texas!
Texas Border Business
HARLINGEN, TX – Today promises to be an exciting day in the Rio Grande Valley as community leaders, higher education and public school educators and administrators come together at the South Texas College Mid-Valley Campus for the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding involving local school districts and five higher education institutions.
Convened by RGV Focus, a Collective Impact initiative in collaboration with Educate Texas and the Region One Education Service Center, the higher education institutions and school districts in our four-county region joined together in response to the House Bill 5 mandate requiring school districts to partner with at least one institution of higher education. However, the institutions in the Rio Grande Valley agreed to collaborate to develop and provide one Math and one English college preparatory course, which will be accepted as evidence of college readiness by all five higher education institutions. As a result of the collaborative efforts eligible high school seniors will be exposed to the same learning outcomes, textbooks, and final exam to ensure that they are prepared to enroll in college credit courses immediately upon graduation. Instructors identified by their district to teach these courses recently participated in professional development led by faculty from the higher education institutions. The courses will be provided during the 2014 – 2015 academic school year.
When discussing the Memorandum of Understanding, Dr. Robert S. Nelsen, president of The University of Texas – Pan American stated, “The Rio Grande Valley is a very special place where students come first. Thanks to RGV Focus, we have made certain that all the students throughout the Valley will succeed as they transition into college.”
Dr. Luzelma Canales summarizes the impact of this historic partnership by institutions of higher education and school districts, “We are extremely proud of the RGV leaders in coming together to respond to the HB5 requirements in a way that will better serve our students and their families. We recognize the role of Region One in convening these organizations in successfully meeting the requirements of the HB5 mandate.”
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding by the five institutions of higher education and school districts will take place on Friday, August 22nd, at 10:00am at South Texas College’s Mid-Valley Campus located at 400 N Border Ave, Weslaco, TX 78596.
