McAllen Independent School District will offer a first of its kind study abroad program where high school juniors will get the opportunity to study in Salamanca, Spain for two weeks.
The opportunity will result in approximately 50 credit hours toward college education, which will classify students as juniors if they decide to attend, according to Mcallen ISD Superintendent J.A Gonzalez.
He said it is the spirit of McAllen ISD to be innovative and creative when coming up with programs to further improve the education of students.
He said McAllen ISD is currently in the visioning stages of potential partnerships with other countries in order to expand on this study abroad program and he believes the district could bring exchange students to come to the Rio Grande Valley.
Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services Rosalba De Hoyos said the study abroad program is not a field trip but rather an experience.
She said the students will travel across Spain to historical locations, eat local food and experience the culture.
McAllen ISD superintendent J.A. Gonzalez said he is proud of the unique opportunities McAllen ISD continues to offer that is not available anywhere else in the state of Texas.
The study abroad program departs for Spain this summer on June 10, and will stay till June 23.