Distance Education Center offers Anytime, Anyplace courses and Distance Education Services. Thousands of students annually earn college credit at their own pace and at their own place. The Distance Education Center has resources for educators, testing and scoring services, and distance technology services including audio and videoconferencing. The Migrant Student Program , provides distance learning courses for high school migrant students. Migrant students need opportunities to earn credit outside the traditional classroom setting since they miss school when they follow the harvest, leaving their Texas schools early in the spring semester and returning late in the fall.
Students can work on the program's distance learning courses at any time and any place.
The program also provides a computer-assisted program for career preparation and Exit Level TAAS preparation materials in print form. A network of parents and migrant educators in Texas and receiving schools provide support for students. The program was awarded the 1996 Significant Achievement in Independent Study Award by the National University Continuing Education Association and the 1996 Distinguished Credit Program Award by the Region VII Association for continuing Higher Education. At the option of the local school district, junior high and high school students who have received previous instruction in a subject may earn credit by scoring 70 on a test covering the appropriate essential knowledge and skills. Each school district sets its own eligibility criteria and determines limits on the amount of credit each student may earn through Credit by Examination.