Sen. Patrick visits Lone Star College-University Park, comes away 'excited'

Sen. Dan Patrick visited with students from iSchool High, located at LSC-University Park. Pictured from left are: Dr. Michael Laird, principal of iSchool High; Joshua March; Lauren Cordova; Sen. Dan Patrick; and Daniel Kerwood.

State Sen. Dan Patrick visited Lone Star College-University Park on May 23 to tour the new iSchool High at University Park and to visit with students and various school administrators.

ISchool High is a charter high school where college-ready students take dual credit classes toward an associate degree from LSC-University Park while simultaneously completing high school course requirements. ISchool High is one of 52 campuses across Texas that is part of Responsive Education Solutions, a nonprofit organization based in Dallas.

Patrick met with students who shared their iSchool High experiences with him.

The partnership between Lone Star and ResponsiveEd was created to have all iSchool High students receive their high school diploma while earning up to 60 college hours of credit. Students can apply those college hours toward an associate degree or the first two years of a four-year degree.

This new model of collaboration between iSchool High and Lone Star College "offers one of the greatest opportunities for students in Texas and the nation," said Sen. Patrick in a news release. "I get excited when I see real innovation at work."

"This learning environment has not only taught me academically but also made me accountable for my progress and success," said iSchool High student Daniel Kerwood in a statement.

"Students have accepted the challenge of being self-reliant by working independently," added iSchool High and LSC-University Park dual credit student Joshua March. "We are motivated to achieve and are rewarded for our accomplishments."

LSC-University Park CEO Shah Ardalan is excited by the future potential of the institution.

"The core of our mission is providing affordable access to quality education and training," said Ardalan in a statement. "The partnership with ResponsiveEd is an excellent and critical addition in offering comprehensive educational prospects to our community from ninth grade to workforce certificates, as well as associate, bachelor's and graduate degrees in more than 60 disciplines. LSC-University Park has been designed to fully align with the needs of the community by offering innovative and transformative opportunities from education to careers.

"LSC-University Park is the model for the community college of the 21st century. We are one location with many opportunities."

For more information on ResponsiveEd, visit www.ResponsiveEd.com.

For more information on Lone Star College, visit www.lonestar.edu.