Texas Community College Teachers Association February 22, 2008 What Works: High Impact Programs for Student Success

Texas Public Schools Snapshot (2006)  K-12 Public Schools  4.5 million students  45% Hispanic, 37% White, 15% African American  1,033 Districts  7,956 campuses (including 313 charters)  4.5 million students  1.2 million in high schools  194 Charter Operators  313 Charters Source: Texas Education Agency

Why change high schools? Source: Texas Education Agency

Disparities persist TAKS Exit Level Passing Rates - Preliminary Spring 2007 Source: Texas Education Agency

College-readiness low English/LAMathBoth All students52%53%38% African- American 39%32%20% Hispanic42% 27% White64%67%50% Percent of Students Meeting THECB Standard for Higher Education Readiness (Preliminary 2007)

Mission All Texas high school students will have the opportunity to achieve their highest educational potential and promote state competitiveness in the 21st Century. Vision All Texas students will graduate high school ready for college and career success and prepared to be contributing members of the community.

Goals  Increase high school graduation rates  Promote a college-going culture and increase college readiness  Build statewide capacity for supporting high school redesign and reform  Create systemic changes that ensure long-term sustainable high school improvement

THSP focuses on high-need areas  Urban areas and Texas-Mexico border  First-generation college students  Economically disadvantaged students

What do we mean by college?  Postsecondary education beyond high school  Community Colleges  Four year colleges and universities  Technical/Trade Schools  Apprenticeship or Employer-based training  Military

THSP’s Public-Private Alliance  Texas Education Agency  Governor’s Office and the Texas Legislature  Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board  Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation  Michael and Susan Dell Foundation  Communities Foundation of Texas  National Instruments  Greater Texas Foundation More than $300 million dedicated to improving graduation and college-readiness

Communities Foundation of Texas Role  Fiscal agent and re-grantor for private philanthropic funds  Largest national education grantee of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation  Employs 20 professional staff to provide technical assistance to grantees across Texas  Provides direct private grants from CFT internal funds focused on North Dallas

THSP’s Work  In classrooms – Implementing intervention programs for at-risk students  In schools – Creating new models to address 21st Century student educational needs  In districts – Empowering district administrators to change practices and policies to support campuses  In people – Developing innovative preparation and professional development programs for teachers and school leaders

THSP Program Areas  Creating new models and support structures  Texas Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (T-STEM)  Early College High Schools  New Schools and Charter Schools  Redesigned High schools  School District Engagement  Educational Leadership – Teachers and Campus Principals

Early Signs of Success  Higher rate of commended student performance on TAKS  Higher attendance rates  Fewer discipline cases  Stronger parental involvement  Enhanced collaboration between P-12 and post- secondary

THSP Alliance Snapshot  Campus/classroom programs  AVID campuses 28  AP Strategies campuses 111  New or redesigned schools 177  Early College High School 23  High School Redesign 99  T-STEM Academies 38  New and Charter Schools 17  Total number of students served at new or redesigned schools  Current 83,000  Projected 100,000 Note: Investments include TEA, MSDF & CFT support

THSP Alliance Snapshot (cont’d)  District Engagement (Systemic Improvement)  Austin  Houston  Dallas  San Antonio  Education Leadership – Retention, Recruitment, Development of Teachers and Principals  Innovative Principal Certification programs at 5 universities  Houston ISD  UTEACH replication (U of H, UT-Dallas)  New Teacher Project

T-STEM Centers (7) Early College High Schools (13) High School Redesigned Schools (6) New/Charter Schools (13) T-STEM Academies (22) Leadership Investments (6) Waco El Paso Lubbock Ft Worth Dallas Houston Austin San Antonio Brownsville Center in Texas A & M Asia Society plans to open two schools in under-served urban areas and/or along the Texas - Mexico Border THSP/CFT Projects

TEA programs Early College High School Grants (9) Texas Grants to Reduce Academic Dropouts (12) TX High School Completion and Success Grant (128) TX High School Completion and Success—Cycle 2 (105) Comprehensive School Reform—TX High School Initiative Grant (84) High Schools That Work Enhanced Design Network (14) Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Early Innovators, Academies and Centers (22) Postsecondary Success Initiative Pilot Program (6) Middle College/Early College High School Expansion Grant (10) TX High School Redesign and Restructuring (12) TX High School Redesign and Restructuring— Cycle 2 (17 ) * Representational map - does not reflect exact numbers of grantees for each program

Early College High School (ECHS)  Establishes small high schools that integrate college/K-12 instructional programs  Allows students to earn associate’s degree or up to 60 hours college credit  Targets economically disadvantaged and first- generation college-goers

Key Elements of Early College  Dual credit courses  Alignment of high school and community college curriculum  College-going culture  Intensive support to address rigor  Strong post-secondary and public education partnerships

Snapshot ECHS throughout Texas

THSP Higher Education Snapshot  Texas Association of Community Colleges  Investments in 6 public university systems  University of Texas System  Texas A&M University System  Texas Tech University System  Texas State University System  University of Houston System  University of North Texas

THSP Early College High Schools  University of Texas System  UT-San Antonio – East Central ISD, Southside ISD, Southwest ISD  UT-Pan American – Hidalgo ISD (2)  University of North Texas System  Brookhaven Community College – Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD  Mountain View Community College – Dallas ISD  Cedar Valley College – Dallas ISD (opening 2008)  Texas Association of Community Colleges  Del Mar College – Corpus Christi ISD  Southeast Community College – Houston ISD  El Paso Community College – Socorro ISD  Texas A&M University System  Texas A&M Corpus Christi – Flour Bluff ISD  Texas A&M International – Laredo ISD

THSP Early College High Schools  Houston Community College – Houston ISD  San Jacinto Community College – Clear Creek ISD  Temple College – Taylor/Hutto ISDs  Texas State Technical College Marshal – Panola Charter School  Texas State Technical College Harlingen – Harlingen ISD  Blinn College/Texas A&M – Bryan ISD  University of Texas Brownsville – Santa Rosa ISD  South Texas College – Progresso ISD  EPCC at Valle Verde – Ysleta ISD  North Harris Community College – Aldine ISD

Challenges  Facilities  Transportation  Staffing  Dual Credit textbook costs  Buy-in and support from Faculty and Administrators  Some opposition to innovation and new ideas  Policy to support and promote ECHS movement

Value-Add of Community Colleges  Culture of access  Student-centric values  Innovation in the DNA of faculty and administrators  Strong connections with ISDs  Natural intermediary with 4-year colleges