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Keller ISD approves Tarleton State University dual-enrollment MOU; district to pilot Tarleton Today program
Summary
The board approved two agreements with Tarleton State University: a Tarleton Today dual‑enrollment memorandum of understanding for 2025–26 and a distinguished high‑school partnership that guarantees admission and supplemental scholarships for qualifying graduates.
The Keller ISD Board of Trustees on Feb. 27 approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Tarleton State University to offer the Tarleton Today dual‑enrollment program in 2025–26, and a separate “distinguished high‑school partnership” that offers eligible graduates guaranteed admission and additional scholarship guarantees.
Why it matters: Administrators said the Tarleton arrangement aims to expand dual‑credit access—particularly in core, math and science courses—by reducing barriers that district staff say limited enrollment under the district’s previous community‑college partner. The district said Tarleton’s model uses open educational resources (OER) to reduce or eliminate textbook and surcharge costs charged to families.
Dual-enrollment MOU (Tarleton Today): Director Kristen Elam told the board the Tarleton program will permit Keller ISD teachers (after Tarleton training) to deliver college courses in district classrooms without the Texas Success Initiative (TSIA/TSI) entrance requirement tied to some community‑college offerings. Administrators said the TSI requirement has previously prevented about 20–25% of students who seek dual credit from participating. Tarleton’s program requires teacher training (a one‑time district-paid training fee of $500 per teacher, per the MOU) and uses Tarleton course materials and OER; districts reported no charge for free‑and‑reduced students under the proposed arrangement.
Distinguished high‑school partnership: The board also approved a separate agreement that guarantees admission to Tarleton for Keller ISD graduates ranked in the top 50% of their class, waives testing for admission and provides a supplemental scholarship (an additional $1,000 for students in the top 10%, or $500 for students in the top 50% above Tarleton’s guaranteed scholarship levels).
Questions from trustees and staff: Board members asked whether Tarleton credits would transfer statewide; staff said a university transcript from Tarleton carries weight as college-level coursework and is generally more broadly recognized than some community-college sequences—but transferability to any particular university depends on the receiving institution’s policies. Trustees also discussed teacher training logistics; the district said Tarleton offers asynchronous and in‑person training and monthly instructor support and that the district will cover the training cost from campus professional‑development budgets.
Vote: Both MOUs were approved by the board (dual-enrollment MOU and the distinguished partnership, each recorded 6–0 in the board minutes).
Ending: District staff said they will pilot Tarleton courses while keeping some existing arrangements in place at Keller Collegiate Academy (KCA) to protect students already enrolled in programs that lead to an associate degree.
