Following a petition process of local residents, the Travis County Commissioners Court called an election allowing residents living in the Del Valle School District the opportunity to join Austin Community College’s district.

Del Valle residents are petitioning to join the ACC district on the May 15, 2004 ballot. Currently, Del Valle students pay out-of-district tuition to attend the College even though many live just minutes from ACC’s Riverside Campus. College tuition would be 50% less if DVISD joined the district.

“Joining the ACC district gives greater access to affordable higher education and training,” said ACC board member John Hernandez. “In addition, as community education levels rise, standards of living also improve and this benefits everyone, not just those who attend college.”

Community Colleges are the primary trainer (and re-trainer) of the local workforce. In addition to traditional university transfer courses, ACC offers workforce programs, adult basic education, English-as-a-Second-Language and Developmental Education.

The Associate Degree is the fastest growing workplace credential.
In lifetime earnings, an Associate Degree is worth $287,000 more than a high school diploma. Even those who never attend ACC benefit from a strong community college. For example, ACC generates $626 million annually to the
local economy, skilled workers raise the wage scale for all, education leads to
fewer social services, lower health care cost and lower crime rates.