An Update on: AVATAR Advisory Committee Education Service Center Region 10 October 9, 2012 M. Jean Keller University of North Texas AVATAR Co-Director

What is AVATAR What is AVATAR ? Academic Vertical Alignment Training And Renewal AVATAR is a statewide network, comprised of regional efforts, focused on vertical alignment to support students’ college and career readiness and success. AVATAR is a Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) funded project which is implemented by the North Texas Regional P-16 Council and the University of North Texas.

Why is AVATAR Needed? Too many secondary and postsecondary leaders and educators do not have shared and accurate information and understanding of what a student needs to know and do to be successful in postsecondary education and career; Too many students enter postsecondary education and do not complete in a timely fashion; and Too many students take developmental education at the postsecondary level.

ScaffoldingStudentSuccess Who is AVATAR? A Partnership of Regional Leaders to Scaffold Student Success

What is the AVATAR Process? Creates and builds relationships with ongoing critical conversations Uses regional data to make alignment decisions Develops shared understanding of college and career readiness and success for students Reviews course information and expectations at each level Identifies and implements intentional interventions Evaluates, sustains, and shares vertical alignment work

Student Success Assessments Dual Credit, Early College High Schools Student Support Services Educational Policies and Practices Classroom Instruction, Textbooks, Grading, etc. Discipline Specific Course Curriculum Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills Impact of Developmental Education and Texas Success Initiative Dual Credit, Early College High Schools Student Support Services Educational Policies and Practices Classroom Instruction, Textbooks Grading, etc. Discipline Reference Course Profiles College & Career Readiness Standards SecondaryPost-Secondary Graduate College/Career Ready Graduate Career Ready

The AVATAR Process Development AVATAR Planning and Oversight Committee AVATAR Facilitators AVATAR Pilot Testing Teams ESC Region 7ESC Region 10 ESC Region XI AVATAR Training of Trainers (TOT) Team AVATAR Evaluation Team Phase One: Planning and Designing Curriculum Alignment Process (August 2011-December 2011) Phase Two: Pilot Testing the Curriculum Alignment Training Process (January-May 2012) Phase Three: Curriculum Alignment Statewide Training, Technical Assistance, and Support (August 2012-August 2013)

AVATAR Pilot Phase: Dallas & Fort Worth Through presentations made by the pilot project participants and AVATAR staff, over 2,400 individuals learned about vertical alignment, college and career readiness, and the need for shared understanding between the secondary and postsecondary leaders. Region 10 Partnership: Education Service Center 10 Dallas Independent School District Dallas County Community College District University of North Texas Region XI Partnership: Education Service Center XI Fort Worth Independent School District Tarrant County Colleges University of North Texas

Phase Three: The Statewide Network At the Training of Trainers Meeting on August 13 th, 96 regional partners from 12 regions across the state were trained to implement the AVATAR process throughout Texas. As of late August/early September, 13 partnerships (2 in Region XI) are conducting their regional meetings and drafting their action plans.

What Are the Outcomes for AVATAR? After a “regional pipeline” of key leaders and educators are identified in each of the 12 participating regions, each partnership will: 1.Establish shared regional college and career readiness foundation/understandings 2.Use regional data to guide decision-making 3.Design and implement a vertical alignment action plan which will include critical conversations 4.Design and implement a sustainability plan 5.Prepare students for college and career success