Birdville board unanimously approves Collegiate Academy move to TCC Northeast campus

The Birdville Independent School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously March 27 to move the Collegiate Academy of Birdville (CAB) from a "school within a school" model to a standalone program in which students will be housed and take all classes at Tarrant County College's Northeast campus.

The board approved the change after an information presentation from Dr. Clark, principal of the Collegiate Academy of Birdville, and discussion about logistics including office space, student services and the state submission timeline. "If this is approved, we will be joining HEB as well as Grapevine at the TCC campus," Dr. Clark said, describing neighboring districts that already operate standalone early-college high schools.

Board members and administrators said the move is intended to increase capacity for the academy, expand access to college-level electives and internships, and take advantage of House Bill 8 funding that covers dual-credit costs for eligible students. Dr. Clark told the board that, of the current senior cohort, 40 of 52 students will graduate with an associate degree (some others may finish during summer terms). She also said the district plans to submit the required blueprint to the Texas Education Agency once the board approves the model change.

Trustee Conkle moved to approve the change; Trustee Sanders Wise seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Board members asked several operational questions during the presentation. Trustees sought clarification about staff office locations; Dr. Clark said existing TCC space includes three classrooms and two offices assigned to the program but that the district and college were still finalizing additional office allocations and expected an update within days. Trustees also discussed athletics and extracurricular participation: Dr. Clark and board members noted that students fully immersed at TCC would be TCC students and that some UIL participation tied to a comprehensive high school could change; students who prefer to remain on a comprehensive campus would be allowed to do so.

The board signaled an intent to incrementally grow the academy's enrollment over time once space and TCC capacity allow. Trustees also noted potential transportation savings from eliminating period-to-period busing for CAB students who currently travel between high schools and the college.

The board directed administration to proceed with the TEA submission and any follow-up tasks needed to implement the model change.