Contributed by Mison Yun, ACC Associate Vice Chancellor for College & High School Relations
Austin Community College District (ACC) hosted its annual Superintendent’s Breakfast, bringing together district leaders, campus administrators, and ACC’s executive team to strengthen collaboration and advance shared goals for student success. The meeting highlighted major priorities for the coming year, underscored ACC’s continued commitment to equity and opportunity, and showcased impactful progress across dual credit and workforce pathways.
Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart opened the convening by outlining ACC’s collegewide priorities and reaffirming the importance of strong high school partnerships in supporting the region’s educational and economic mobility goals. He emphasized a unified commitment to expanding access and ensuring every learner has a clear, supported pathway to a credential of value.
Dr. Lindsay Lawley-Rerecich, English faculty, shared the Theory of Change Dual Credit Design Team’s recommendations, which focus on building a sustainable and scalable dual credit system that ensures quality instruction and equitable access across all partner high schools. Recommendations emphasized strengthening staffing models & expanding the recruitment of credentialed high school teachers, clarifying expectations for college-based faculty, and implementing collegewide quality assurance to ensure parity between dual credit and traditional ACC sections.
Additional recommendations centered on improving communication and outreach to families, students, and school partners. Collectively, these recommendations align with the Theory of Change pillars by ensuring students Start Strong, Enroll Full-Time, Have Their Basic Needs Met, and Experience Connection and Belonging throughout their dual credit journey.
ACC’s Associate Vice Chancellor for College & High School Relations, Mison Yun, followed with a data-informed review of dual credit and direct-to-college outcomes. She shared notable successes in participation, equity gains, 15+ SCH momentum metrics, and credential completion, underscoring the impact of coordinated efforts between ACC and its partner districts.
Finally, Jason Sanchez, director of High School Programs Enrollment & Partnerships, provided an update on ACC Career Academies and dual credit CTE pathways. He highlighted opportunities for students to earn industry-recognized Level 1 certificates while in high school and discussed the expansion of high-value programs aligned with regional labor-market needs.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to ongoing collaboration, data transparency, and program innovation to ensure all Central Texas students can “earn and learn” their way to meaningful college and career outcomes.