Aldine ISD (AISD), Lone Star College (LSC), and the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) entered into an important agreement on April 29—one that will change the lives of many current Aldine ISD students as well as the lives of those far into the future.
UHD President Loren J. Blanchard, Ph.D., LSC Chancellor Mario Castillo, JD, and AISD Superintendent LaTonya Goffney, Ph.D., signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to create a seamless pathway from high school to college for Early College students at Aldine ISD. The three leaders and their institutions have been working on the agreement over the last year; they admitted it wasn’t easy but completely worth it. The collaboration will facilitate high school students’ participation in the Accelerated College Academy in earning their associate degree from LSC while in high school and ultimately earning their bachelor’s degree from UHD.
Dr. Blanchard called the partnership “authentic,” and despite the many years in the
making—beginning with State
Representative Armando Walle who initiated talks back in 2019—he said the real work
was now set to begin. All three institutions vow to support every student who enters
the program.
The 2+2+2 Program, which includes dual enrollment through the AISD Accelerated College Academy with LSC, requires that students meet requirements for dual enrollment, including but not limited to, demonstrating mastery of the required knowledge and skills on a Lone Star designated placement test.
Upon successful completion of AISD’s standards for graduation, students will graduate high school earning up to two years of college credit and an associate degree, in preparation to enroll in a baccalaureate program at UHD. The 2+2+2 Program also includes personal/civic development and character education programs, providing service-learning opportunities and other external learning experiences for all students. UHD will recognize transfer credit of no less than 60 semester credit hours of course work submitted from LSC.