By Kim Hilsenbeck.
Under a proposed new change to the grade point average (GPA) weighting system at Hays CISD, high school students in dual [college] credit classes would have those grades factored into their weighted GPAs.
Hays CISD administrators made a recommendation to change board policy EIC (Local), allowing dual credit courses to be weighted at Tier II, which is a 5.0 weighted on a 4.0 scale.
Advanced Placement (AP) classes, which are college-level classes, will continue to be weighted at 6.0.
The board of trustees heard the first reading of the proposed policy change at a January meeting.
According to the district’s curriculum director, Kim Pool, “The Board and Superintendent adopted a goal asking administration to increase enrollment in dual credit classes,” she wrote in an emailed response.
Fewer than 200 high school students enrolled in dual credit classes in the fall. Because those classes are not currently factored into a student’s GPA, district officials believe the policy change would result in an increase in dual credit class enrollment.
Benefits to students, Pool said, include thousands of dollars in college tuition savings, not to mention time.
“If a student performs well in the cohort model they will earn 24 credit hours in core college courses prior to graduation,” she wrote.
And though Pool said the change benefits students in terms of their GPA and class rank, it works against them the same way.
“If they do not do well, the class still counts in their grade point average and class rank,” Pool said.
For students aiming to land in the top 10 percent of their class, the decision could make dual credit classes more attractive—they would get college credit and have grades factored into their GPA. That may appeal to students who typically earn high marks.
Pool said students would have more options under the policy change. For example, students can still take AP courses and dual credit courses or choose one or the other.
“The board and superintendent have adopted a goal to improve the percentage of students scoring a 3 or higher on AP exams,” Pool said.
Those exams have scores ranging from 1 to 5.
“The goal is to improve all programs and provide flexibility for our students so they can meet their own goals and aspirations,” Pool said.
Some parents, however, still have questions and not all agree with the change.
“We’ve had a couple of meetings with parents and students and received feedback from parents,” Pool said in her email. “Some parents are delighted… some parents have expressed concern that the cohort limits the students’ flexibility.”
Cohort refers in this case to block scheduling. Based on a review of the online course guide for the 2014-2015 school year, students at the two high schools do not have the option to take a single dual credit class; they must take them in blocks.
Pool said she tells parents that the reality is, “ACC must have a certain number of students sign up for a course before they will assign a professor.”
District officials hope so many students sign up for dual credit classes that ACC will assign professors for cohort courses and single courses outside of the cohort. Pool acknowledged that some students may have to make choices in their course selection.
Angie Nettles-Pereira said in a Hays Free Press Facebook post, “They will have to find a way to determine how a college level course will compare in value to a high school class,” she wrote. “These are not equal in difficulty and should not be equally scored.”
Jennifer McMillan Perry countered, saying, “I agree that the courses should be weighted otherwise this effects a students GPA in a negative way and could interfere with college acceptance.”
She was also concerned that class scheduling might exclude some students. Pool said the district planned a new way to schedule the courses to offer more opportunities to earn more college credits at no cost.
“Remember, [Austin Community College] courses are free to high school students,” she said.
Leah Fuller-Workman Kelly wrote, “I think it is a good idea. Dual credit courses have kept my children from earning higher gpas. Had they counted as AP courses, my daughter likely would have made it into top 10 (percent).”
Commenter Jessica Medina Vasquez said she thinks dual credit classes should be weighted into the GPA.
“If it’s not, I personally will have my child wait to take college courses and have him take a course to up his GPA,” she wrote. “For my child it could be a factor for him getting into a college of his choice or not.”
Hays CISD board members are expected to make a decision later this month.
