School & Family Magazine Newstand Cedar Hill ISD February 2018 | Page 12

FAMILIES DELIGHTED WITH DALLAS COUNTY PROMISE CHISD students enroll in free college tuition program. H igh school is when many begin to realize that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. That’s what Cedar Hill High School senior Jaelon Jackson told a television reporter about the new Dallas County Promise program, which offers free college tuition to CHISD students. “My friends were like, ‘Is this real?’ ” Free tuition to any Dallas County Community College District campus is indeed a reality for all CHISD 2018 seniors. The offer is good regardless of a student’s grade point average or household income. Upon graduation from DCCCD, students may transfer to the University of North Texas at Dallas tuition free. To participate, students must fill out an online pledge form and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form and list DCCCD as an option. Morgan Scott was one of the first to complete the online form. She has two siblings in college, and her parents recently earned degrees. “There are no excuses — everyone can go to college,” she says. CHISD’s goal is 85 percent student participation in Dallas County Promise. It has not been announced if the program will continue in 2018-19. Pictured on this page are Cedar Hill High School Class of 2017 graduates, 12