Benchmark 2: Partnerships

Purpose of Partnerships

The Pathways in Technology Early High School (P-TECH) must have a current, signed memorandum of understanding (MOU) or interlocal agreement (ILA) with each Institution of Higher Education (IHE). The P-TECH must also have a current and signed agreement with each business/industry partner. Both agreements must respectively outline key issues related to the planning, implementation, and sustainability of the P-TECH program. Stakeholders shall review the MOUs and agreements annually. The agreements shall include the components described in the design elements below.  

Design Elements for MOU or ILA with Institution of Higher Education

1. Goal of Higher Education Partnership
   
   The MOU or ILA shall include the goal of the P-TECH and IHE partnership and a description of how the goals of the dual credit program align to the Texas Statewide Dual Credit Goals.
2. Roles and Responsibilities
   
   The MOU or ILA shall include the respective roles and responsibilities for the campus and IHE in providing for and ensuring the quality and instructional rigor of the dual credit program.
3. Funding
   
   The MOU or ILA shall identify how costs will be shared, including for the following:

   1. Dual credit courses offered through the program

   2. Instructional materials to be used and textbook adoption

   3. Transportation costs and fees

   4. Eligibility of P-TECH students for financial assistance from the higher education partner(s), specifically, waivers for tuition and fees

4. Academic Plan
   
   The MOU or ILA shall articulate the academic plan, including the following:

   1. Courses of study that enable a student to combine high school courses and college-level courses with the goal to earn an associate degree or up to 60 semester credit hours toward a baccalaureate degree

   2. Curriculum alignment for each degree plan with a course equivalency crosswalk equating high school courses with college courses and the number of credits that may be earned for each course completed through the dual credit program

   3. Transferable and applicable college credits earned during high school

5. Transcription of Credit
   
   The MOU or ILA shall include components that enhance transcription of credit, including the following:

   1. Assurances that the IHE will transcribe college credit earned through dual credit in the same semester that credit is earned

   2. Assurances that the P-TECH will adhere to the grading periods and policies of the IHE for dual credit and college courses, including academic probation

6. Course Delivery and Scheduling
   
   The MOU or ILA shall articulate course delivery and scheduling including the following:  

   1. The instructional calendar, including location of each course that will be offered

   2. Assurances that P-TECH students are treated as dual credit students until graduation from the P-TECH program. As such, they may take dual credit courses during the fall, spring, and summer sessions to meet the goals of the P-TECH program

7. Staffing Plan
   
   The MOU or ILA shall include a staffing plan for the P-TECH, including the following:

   1. Teacher qualification processes, instructor availability, and course offerings 

   2. Joint professional development for P-TECH faculty and college and counselors/advisors (including both district and IHE faculty/staff)

8. Instructional Materials and Textbooks
   
   The MOU or ILA shall articulate instructional materials and textbook policies, including the following:

   1. The duration for which textbooks can be used

   2. Instructional materials and textbook costs and fees

9. Access to Higher Education Resources
   
   The MOU or ILA shall articulate that students will be granted access to higher education resources, including the following: 

   1. P-TECH students’ access to the IHE facilities, services and resources

   2. Disability services available to students in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for college courses for dual credit

10. Transportation
    
    The MOU or ILA shall address transportation, including the following:  

    1. Transportation policies, including the P-TECH and IHE respective roles and responsibilities related to transportation

    2. Transportation costs and fees funding

11. Collaborative Outreach Efforts
    
    The MOU or ILA shall outline the commitment that the P-TECH and IHE will implement purposeful and collaborative outreach efforts to inform all students and parents of the benefits and costs of dual credit, including enrollment and fee policies.

12. Student Participation
    
    The MOU or ILA shall articulate student participation, including the following:

    1. Policy on minimum class size per dual credit course

    2. Student enrollment policies, including student eligibility for enrollment and pre-requisite policies 

    3. Student attendance policies 

    4. Code of conduct policies 

    5. Administration of statewide assessments of academic skills (TEC, Subchapter B, Chapter 39) 

    6. Provisions for discontinuing P-TECH operation to ensure students previously enrolled will have the opportunity to complete their course of study

13. Academic Supports
    
    The MOU or ILA shall identify how the P-TECH and IHE will provide academic supports including the following:

    1. Academic and college readiness advising with access to student support services to bridge students successfully into college course completion

    2. Advising services for students on the transferability and applicability to baccalaureate degree plans for all college credit offered and earned

    3. Policies related to student intervention

14. Data Sharing
    
    The MOU or ILA shall include a data sharing agreement that outlines provisions for student data to be provided by the college to the high school and enables collaborative data sharing on a regular basis to promote student support interventions during the semester. The MOU and ILA shall also include the following: 

    1. Teacher data such as qualifications

    2. Student-level data such as credit hours taken and earned, GPA, student academic progress, college and career readiness metrics (e.g., SAT/ACT), and formative regularly updated or real-time data (e.g., course enrollment/ dropout, TSIA scores, 6-/9-week or midterm grades, attendance for students at the high school) 

    3. Policies for expanding access to student data, such as granting P-TECH teachers of record and campus administrators full instructor access

15. P-TECH Program Data Analysis
    
    The MOU or ILA shall identify the CCRSM program data analysis that the P-TECH will complete, including but not limited to:

    1. Dual credit program outcomes that assist high school students in the successful transition to and acceleration through postsecondary education

    2. The quality and rigor of dual credit courses will be sufficient to ensure student success in subsequent courses

Design Elements for Agreement with Business/Industry Partner

16. Roles and Responsibilities
    
    The agreement shall include the respective roles and responsibilities for the campus/LEA and business/industry partner in providing for and ensuring the quality and instructional rigor of the work-based learning programming. 
17. Work-Based Learning Plan
    
    The agreement shall clearly outline a work-based learning plan that will be followed to provide relevant work-based learning experiences aligned to the Tri-Agency Work-Based Learning Continuum.
18. Work-Based Learning Activities
    
    The agreement shall include a detailed plan for work-based learning experiences for students appropriate to each grade level. These activities should increase in rigor and specificity as illustrated by the Tri-Agency Work-based Learning Continuum beginning with activities such as facility visits and culminating in activities, such as pre-apprenticeships.
19. Professional Skills and Mentorship
    
    The agreement shall articulate that the P-TECH and business/industry partner provide mentorship activities that promote professional skills attainment, including the following:

    1. A plan for career mentoring activities appropriate to each grade level

    2. The roles and responsibilities of the P-TECH and business/industry partners in the planning and implementation of career mentoring

    3. Support for students’ activities, such as clubs, Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs), competitions, and special initiatives that promote professional skills attainment 

20. Access to Business Resources
    
    The agreement shall articulate student access to business/industry partners and work-based learning facilities, services, and resources.

21. Transportation
    
    The agreement shall address transportation, including the following:  

    1. Transportation policies, including the P-TECH and business/industry respective roles and responsibility related to transportation

    2. Transportation costs and fees

22. Qualifying for Priority Interviewing
    
    The agreement shall include a commitment that the business/industry partner will give students who receive work-based training or education from the partner priority in interviewing for any jobs for which the student is qualified that are available upon the student’s completion of the program.

23. Program Monitoring
    
    The agreement shall include program monitoring components to ensure the quality and rigor of work-based learning experiences will be sufficient to ensure student success in subsequent work-based learning, mentorship, and internship experiences. 

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