The Quitman School Board approved the memorandum of understanding between Tyler Junior College and Quitman ISD Monday for the 2020-21 dual credit program and college preparatory classes.

Brittany Eldred, college and career readiness advisor, pointed out changes the new director at TJC has requested and spoke on how QISD is implementing them.

The new director of school partnership at TJC has revised the format on most of the documents the school uses and is requiring some additional steps be taken. 

TJC has requested the development of a leadership team to help address issues regarding dual credit and working together with the college. Quitman ISD has already put the team in place. 

They are requiring the instructional calendar of all dual-credit sites contain and reflect the college’s major holidays. 

“This has been an issue in the past such as this week, TJC is on spring break; next week, we’re on spring break. So our dual-credit students are having to come up to the school over their spring break to do their lectures. This has already been addressed in next year’s academic calendar,” stated Eldred. 

TJC will now report the final grades to QISD within one week of the end of the semester. 

“This is a huge improvement for us. We usually don’t get those until many weeks later and we’re waiting to calculate GPA and rank at the last minute,” explained Eldred. 

The new director has also implemented a new form that students and parents must sign called the school partnership parent form. 

“This gives us permission to have access to their records, academic and financial, because this year, we were not allowed to have that information. We’ve struggled to find out if our students are passing or if they owe money. They haven’t been communicating that with us. This is a great way to get that fixed,” Eldred pointed out.

Quitman ISD will continue financially helping students who take dual credit classes. They split the cost with TJC for economically challenged students for up to 15 hours allowing students to get their first 15 hours for free.

They are also discussing ways to provide further assistance to students who need it based on the availability of funds. 

Non-economically disadvantaged students get half of their tuition paid by QISD for the first 15 hours as well. Students are responsible for purchasing their own textbooks and supplies.

_{John Ring says Wood County Now is located in Wood County, Texas and they cover local news for Mineola, Quitman, Winnsboro, Yantis, Alba, Golden, Hawkins, Holly Lake Ranch and all unincorporated areas.}