Everyone Can Learn by Rita Yeung Garland High School, Garland ISD Texas PTA Reflections art exhibit Title I SIP Funding for College Readiness Infrastructure

Campuses eligible for incentive While any SIP campus is eligible, it is strongly advised that campuses apply only if that have met the following conditions: – Have already identified an area college that is willing to commit to serving on a college readiness planning team – Are already providing a minimum of 12 hours of advanced academic opportunities for students, such as dual credit, AP/IB – Have already begun work to create career pathways leading to professional certificates for students not interested in a 4-year college degree

Description of incentive The College Readiness Infrastructure incentive enables campuses to created a strong college readiness platform from which its students can begin earning college credits toward a postsecondary academic degree or a career certification. This infrastructure, once created, will lay the foundation needed, should the decision be made for the campus to pursue at a later date implementation of any of the following innovative college readiness models: – Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (T-STEM) – Early College High School (ECHS) – College for All (CFA)

Benefits of Selecting Incentive Enables campus to strengthen its college readiness efforts so that all students can begin earning college credits toward a postsecondary academic degree or a career certification. Develops a strong college readiness foundation for campuses who may be interested in becoming a T-STEM academy, or Early College High School, or College for All campus.

Commitments and requirements for incentive Creating or strengthening an MOU between the district and a partnering institution of higher education that identifies the responsibilities of each entity in providing dual credit opportunities for high school students, including development of a course crosswalk identifying college credit opportunities to be made available to students. Administering a Texas Success Initiatives (TSI) assessment to all 10 graders to qualify them to take dual credit courses at the partnering community college. Implementing an interventions plan to correct deficiencies identified in the TSI that will prevent students from participating in college credit opportunities,

Considerations and interest for incentive To successfully develop the required MOU, a campus should already have a strong partnership with an area college with evidence that its dual credit arrangement is working successfully There should already be strong district-level interest and commitment to a “college readiness for all” approach It is recommended that as a first step a planning team consisting of campus, district, college, and community leaders be created. To successfully implement this incentive, there should be evidence of a commitment to developing a strong, robust portfolio of advance academic opportunities Preliminary work to develop career pathways leading to professional certificates should be underway for those students not interested in a 4-year college degree

Considerations and interests (cont.) Strong consideration should be given to committing a portion of these funds purchase coaching services approved for this purpose For maximum TSI results, strong consideration should be given to offering students an intensive two-week preparation/tutoring program to review TSI content immediately prior to administration of the TSI. Campus must be prepared to analyze TSI results and develop and execute intervention plans for each 10 th grade student failing to pass the TSI in preparation for a retest.

Considerations and interests (cont.) It is recommended that campuses provide their teachers with professional development addressing college readiness issues and TSI preparation An effective use of funds would also include a summer bridge program for rising 9 th graders to prepare them for successful transition to high school and to make them aware of how to take advantage of HS to prepare for college Campuses may find it helpful to administer career interest inventories to students to assist them focus on college readiness and information sessions for them to learn about college-related issues such as entrance requirements, financial aid, scholarship opportunities.

Considerations and Interests (cont.) For schools interested in later becoming a T-STEM academy, the following STEM activities are recommended – Development of a template for a “STEM individual graduation plan” identifying the types and sequence of STEM courses the school would offer – Development of plans to prepare students to participate in challenging STEM-related competitions including robotics, rocketry, video game design, and engineering.

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