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Plano ISD unveils Electrical Engineering Academy with East Texas A&M partnership
Summary
Plano ISD presented a proposed four‑year Electrical Engineering Academy for 8th‑grade entrants that would offer CTE and dual‑credit courses (up to 53 transferable credits) and — according to the district — tuition waived by East Texas A&M through embedded faculty; board previewed outreach and application dates.
Kristen Edney, executive director for CCMR, described a proposed Electrical Engineering Academy developed with East Texas A&M that would start in academic year 2026–27 pending board approval. The program would accept up to 120 students beginning in 9th grade (application open to 8th graders) and blend high school CTE coursework with dual‑credit college classes in 11th and 12th grade. Edney said the partnership intends to staff dual‑credit sections with embedded faculty and that “the tuition will be waived by East Texas A and M,” removing a direct tuition cost for students while the district provides qualified instructors.
Edney outlined academic and career benefits: earlier exposure to engineering, hands‑on labs, industry certificates, and pathways that can transfer to four‑year institutions. She described admission criteria (TSIA or SAT/ACT benchmarks by junior year, a four‑year commitment) and noted funding would come from a mixture of Perkins funding for professional learning and curriculum, bond capital funds for equipment and labs, and general operating funds for some expenses.
Board members and the superintendent praised the partnership and asked operational questions. The superintendent noted the program fills a strategic plan objective to expand pathways across district clusters; trustees asked about outreach and timing. Edney said the district will hold a virtual academy information meeting on Sept. 30, an open house specifically for the electrical engineering program on Oct. 20, and additional virtual options for families in November.
No final action on the academy was recorded in the discussion segment; Edney said the program would begin pending the board’s later approval of the memorandum of understanding and related items in the consent agenda.
