College and Career Readiness School Models (CCRSM)

Early College High Schools (ECHS) are established through partnerships between school districts and colleges that are innovatively designed to blend high school and college education using a dual credit framework. The schools are designed for high school students to simultaneously earn a high school diploma and an associate degree (or up to two years of credit toward a bachelor's degree).

We launched our first ECHS partnerships in 2014. Beginning their freshmen year, ECHS students begin working toward their high school diplomas while earning up to 60 semester credit hours toward an associate degree—all free-of-cost to students enrolled in the program. 

Palo Alto College ECHS Partners

Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools (P-TECH) are innovative open-enrollment high schools that allow students least likely to attend college an opportunity to receive both a high school diploma and a credential and/or an associate degree. The hallmark of the P-TECH model is its career focus and the provision of work-based education.

Palo Alto College P-TECH Partners

Texas Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (T-STEM) Academies are open-enrollment secondary schools focusing on improving instruction and academic performance in science and mathematics-related subjects and increasing the number of students who study and enter STEM careers.

For more information regarding College and Career Readiness School Models please refer to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) website.

Advising

Advising Syllabus
The  Advising syllabus details the topics liasion will review with student by semester.

TAGS Link
Transfer Advising Guides (formerly called 2+2 Plans) provide information on courses to complete prior to transferring to a university. Students should use the transfer advising guides to determine what courses to take at Palo Alto College, as these plans list the requirements within each degree. Transfer advising guides can be accessed here. 

Texas Common Core Numbering System (TCCNS)
The Texas Common Course Numbering System (TCCNS) is a voluntary, co-operative effort among 137 Texas community colleges and universities to facilitate transfer of freshman and sophomore level general academic coursework. TCCNS provides a shared, uniform set of course designations for students and their advisors to use in determining both course equivalency and degree applicability of transfer credit on a statewide basis.

College Transcript

How to Request Official Transcripts

Students should allow 5-7 business days for the transcript requests to be processed. Transcript Request

Transcripts are NOT printed on campus. All transcripts are printed and mailed from an off-site location after a request is made. For this reason, it is not possible to pick up a transcript in person on the same day of a request. Please contact Credentials Solutions at 847-716-3005 if request is not processed in seven (7) business days.

Counselor & ISD Partners

CCRSM Manual
The CCRSM Manual gives a detailed overview of all the policies and procedures that pertain to the high school programs department.

TSI
TSI upload Process for Counselors

High School Program Forms
Below are the HSP forms that are needed in order to be in compliance with the colleges rules and regulations.

Parent Consent Form (PDF)
Verification Form (PDF)
Course Agreement (PDF)
Recommendation List (Excel)
Add/Drop Slip

CCRSM Information

Texas Education Agency - TEA
For more information regarding College and Career Readiness School Models please refer to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) webpage.

Perspective Partners
Steps to offer a College and Career Readiness School Model program

In order to ensure we are able to support your request, we have implemented a Request for Proposal (RFP) process to gather essential details from our partners to better understand the incoming request.

This link will take you directly to the RFP designated site which includes: information, timeline and application.

What Is CCRSM?
College and Career Readiness School Models (CCRSM) are offered in a variety of  programs including Early College High School (ECHS), Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH), Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics Initiative (T-SEM). 

CCRSM courses are taught either at the college or at the high school. Courses are taught by college faculty or by qualified high school instructors who meet the same criteria as college faculty.

If you are interested in a CCRSM, program, check with your high school counselor for a complete list of available programs. Academic courses are transferable to all Texas public colleges and universities and to some private and out-of-state institutions.

What Are the Benefits?
CCRSM offers motivated high school students the opportunity to earn college and high school credit simultaneously.

As a CCRSM student, you can: Save money on college tuition. Finish college faster. Enjoy an easier transition to college-level coursework and college life.

Who Can Enroll?
To participate in a CCRSM program, you must:

Be enrolled in good standing in 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th grade of a participating high school, private, charter or home school.  Have approval from a high school counselor.  Fulfill appropriate admissions criteria to the college.  Meet minimum test scores.

Who pays for the costs of CCRSM classes?
Palo Alto Community College has waived tuition and fees for CCRSM students. Students living within taxing districts (In-District) may take CCRSM classes at no charge. Students living outside of the taxing district (Out-of-District) do not pay tuition, but they do pay tuition out-of-district fees.

Where are CCRSM classes taught?
CCRSM classes are conveniently held on the high school campus or on a nearby college campus. On the high school campus, the classes are exclusively for students attending that high school. On the college campus, students are integrated into regular college courses with regular college students.

How many courses can I take?
House Bill 505 removed limitations on the number of classes a student may take. However, Palo Alto Community College recommends that students taking more than two classes per semester possess a 3.0 or higher grade point average in high school coursework.

How will I know if my courses transfer?
Students may verify the transferability of credit by asking the college/university if the target university will accept Palo Alto Community College college-level courses in transfer. While many private and out-of-state institutions accept our college-level courses in transfer, students are advised to confirm transferability with the private or out-of-state institution. Workforce courses may or may not be transferable depending upon whether Palo Alto Community College and the college or university has a signed articulation agreement for the particular program and courses in question.

Who is responsible for purchasing the textbooks and other instructional material?
CCRSM students, like all college students, are responsible for purchasing required textbooks and other essential course materials. The exception would be in cases where the high school provides textbooks.

Can CCRSM obtain financial aid?
CCRSM students cannot receive financial aid. Students must earn a high school diploma or GED to be eligible for financial aid.

What is FERPA and who is an eligible student?
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that affords parents the right to have access to their children’s education records, the right to seek to have the records amended, and the right to have some control over the disclosure of personally identifiable information from the education records. When a student turns 18 years old, or enters a postsecondary institution at any age, the rights under FERPA transfer from the parents to the student (“eligible student”). An “eligible student” means a student who has reached the age of 18 or who is attending a postsecondary institution at any age. Once a student becomes an “eligible student,” the rights afforded his or her parents under FERPA transfer to that student.