College Connection Blanco Independent School District January 8, 2007

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s Strategic Plan “Closing the Gaps” Overview

Closing the Gaps Closing the Gaps warns that if more Texans do not receive college degrees by 2030, the State could lose up to $40 billion in annual household income. The goal is to increase student enrollment in higher education by 630,000 by Most students will elect to start at a community college. Austin Community College expects 15,000 more students by 2015.

Education Beyond High School Increases earning potential and employment opportunities U.S. Department of Education

Learn to Earn Source: Postsecondary Education OPPORTUNITY

College Connection Overview

Improving High School to College Transitions - Goals Create an expectation that “College is in everyone’s future.” Increase percentage of high school seniors who enter college after high school graduation.

Texas High School Graduates from FY 2005 Enrolled in Texas Higher Education Fall 2005 Austin Community College Service Area College Transition Rates *Includes students who were not enrolled in Texas colleges or universities in the year immediately following graduation, as well as students who were enrolled out-of-state. **Districts with less than 25 graduates are not included in this report. Source: School District Total High School Graduates Students Enrolled in Texas Universities Students Enrolled in Texas 2-year Colleges Students Not Located in Texas Higher Education * Austin3, %68718%2,005 54% Bastrop %10223%239 54% Blanco631829%1422%31 49% Coupland** Del Valle %6719%236 66% Doss** Dripping Springs %5423%66 28% Eanes %539%267 46% Elgin %4220%111 53% Fredericksburg %3013%108 47%

Texas High School Graduates from FY 2005 Enrolled in Texas Higher Education Fall 2005 Austin Community College Service Area College Transition Rates School District Total High School Graduates Students Enrolled in Texas Universities Students Enrolled in Texas 2-year Colleges Students Not Located in Texas Higher Education * Georgetown %9518%246 46% Harper331751%412%12 36% Hays %7715%290 55% Jarrell381026%1026%18 47% Johnson City582340%916%26 45% Lago Vista652132%812%36 55% Lake Travis %5417%116 36% Leander1, %28228%422 42% Liberty Hill %3022%66 48% Lockhart %2812%147 61% *Includes students who were not enrolled in Texas colleges or universities in the year immediately following graduation, as well as students who were enrolled out-of-state. **Districts with less than 25 graduates are not included in this report. Source:

Texas High School Graduates from FY 2005 Enrolled in Texas Higher Education Fall 2005 Austin Community College Service Area College Transition Rates School District Total High School Graduates Students Enrolled in Texas Universities Students Enrolled in Texas 2-year Colleges Students Not Located in Texas Higher Education * Luling811721%79%57 70% Manor %2619%87 62% McDade** Nixon-Smiley591017%1322%36 61% Pflugerville %20221%404 43% Prairie Lea** Round Rock2, %39818%1,057 48% San Marcos %6416%234 59% Smithville %2423%5653% Wimberley %3421%61 38% Total12,9074,05931%2,41419%6,43450% *Includes students who were not enrolled in Texas colleges or universities in the year immediately following graduation, as well as students who were enrolled out-of-state. **Districts with less than 25 graduates are not included in this report. Source:

College Connection Program Many high school students find the college enrollment process intimidating. Austin Community College provides hands-on, one-on-one support to assist every student through each step of the college admissions process. During graduation ceremonies, high school graduating seniors receive acceptance letters to Austin Community College.

College Connection Students Receive On-Campus Activities: Access to college and help getting started Student life information Admission application ACC Video Teleconference Financial aid application ASSET assessment Tour of Austin Community College campus(es) Pre-Advising (ACC 101) Advising Acceptance letter to ACC at graduation Registration for ACC classes Red=Required Blue=Recommended Black=Optional

School Districts Participating in the College Connection Program (Year 1) San Marcos CISD (Year 2) Austin ISD Bastrop ISD Del Valle ISD Leander ISD San Marcos CISD (Year 3) Austin ISD Bastrop ISD Del Valle ISD Hays CISD Leander ISD Manor ISD Pflugerville ISD San Marcos CISD (Year 4) Austin ISD Blanco ISD Bastrop ISD Del Valle ISD Elgin ISD Fredricksburg ISD Harper ISD Hays CISD Jarrell ISD Johnson City ISD Lago Vista ISD Leander ISD Liberty Hill ISD Lockhart ISD Luling ISD Manor ISD Nixon-Smiley CISD Pflugerville ISD Prairie Lea ISD Round Rock ISD San Marcos CISD Smithville ISD

“Attaining advanced levels of education for disadvantaged students cannot be done without developing a college-going culture in every middle school and high school in the state of Texas...then suddenly, (going to college) changes from being a possibility to an expectation.” Raymund Paredes Commissioner, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board January 6, 2005

“The state must look for successful programs with statewide potential, such as ACC’s College Connection program, in which seniors in participating high schools are given help with financial aid forms and required to fill out applications.” Raymond Paredes State Higher Education Commissioner Austin American Statesman, April 16, 2006

College Connection Program National Acclaim & Recognition

Program Recognition THEB Star Award 2006 Winner -- November 2006 Excelencia in Education Award Finalist -- October 2006 Bellwether Award Finalist -- December 2006

The College Connection Web Site Information for parents Information for students Information for school district personnel Calendars Links to pertinent Austin Community College sites

Directory Educational Choices Educational Choices Costs & Financial Aid Student Support Library Locations Get Answers Costs & Financial Aid Student Support Library Locations Get Answers A C H o m eA C C H o m e » C ol le ge C on ne cti on at A us ti n C o m m un it y C ol le ge College Connection receives state and national recognition and awards: T e x a s H ig h e r E d u c a ti o n C o o r d i n a ti n g B o a r d 's S T A R A w a r d C o m m u n it y C ol le g e F u t u r e s A ss e m b ly B el l w et h e r A w a r d F i n al is t E x c el e n ci a i n E d u c a ti o n S e m if i n al is t Graduating seniors in Austin, Bastrop, Blanco, Del Valle, Elgin, Fredericksburg, Harper, Hays, Jarrell, Johnson City, Lago Vista, Leander, Liberty Hill, Lockhart, Luling, Manor, Nixon-Smiley, Pflugerville, Prairie Lea, Round Rock, San Marcos, and Smithville ISDs will now receive two sources of recognition when they walk across the stage to graduate: a diploma and an acceptance letter to college. This is due to a new, nationally recognized program called College Connection. Through the College Connection program, ACC will provide hands-on, one-on-one support to assist every student through each step of the college admissions process. College Connection will help increase the number of graduating seniors who enter college by creating an awareness of the benefits of going to college. Bringing this unique partnership to the community is an important step toward student success. By working together to “close the gap,” we can help improve the quality of life in Central Texas…one student at a time. "Suddenly, (going to college) changes from being a possibility to an expectation." -Raymund Paredes, Texas Higher Education Commissioner W eb m as te rW eb m as te r Di re ct or y C op yr ig ht L eg al N ot ic es A bo ut A C C C on ta ct A C C A C C H o m e L as t m od ifi ed : D ec e m be r : 22 p m | A us ti n C o m m un it y C ol le ge Di str ict A us ti n, T X Di re ct or y C op yr ig ht L eg al N ot ic es A bo ut A C on ta ct A C A C H o m e F ut u re S tu d e nt s F ut u re S tu d e nt s C u rr e nt S tu d e nt s F a c ul ty a n d S ta ff C o m m u ni ty a n d B u si n e ss N e w sr o o m A - Z I n d e x C u rr e nt S tu d e nt s F a c ul ty a n d S ta ff C o m u ni ty a n d B u si n e ss N e w sr o m A - Z I n d e x College Connection at Austin Community CollegeCollege Connection at Austin Community College A us ti n C o m m un it y C ol le ge M id dl e Fi sk vi lle R d. A us ti n, Te xa s A C C (4 22 2) Apply Apply Schedule Register Schedule Register B la c k b o ar d L o gi nB la c k b o ar d L o gi n A C C 1 0 1A C A C C A li v e T el et o u rA C A li v e T el et o u r T O P C A TT O P C A T E n E s p a ñ olE n E s p a ñ ol C ol le g e C o n n e ct io n H o m eC ol le g e C o n e ct io n H o m e S c h o ol D is tr ic ts P ar ti ci p at in g in C ol le g e C o n n e ct io nS c h o ol D is tr ic ts P ar ti ci p at in g in C ol le g e C o n e ct io n S te p s to C ol le g e C o n n e ct io nS te p s to C ol le g e C o n e ct io n A b o ut C ol le g e C o n n e ct io nA b o ut C ol le g e C o n e ct io n W h y C ol le g e C o n n e ct io nW h y C ol le g e C o n e ct io n A C C 's R ol e in C ol le g e C o n n e ct io nA C 's R ol e in C ol le g e C o n e ct io n W h at S tu d e nt s G etW h at S tu d e nt s G et A C C D e p ar t m e nt s in v ol v e d in C ol le g e C o nnectionA C D e p ar t m e nt s in v ol v e d in C ol le g e C o n ectionCollegeConnectionIntheNewsCollegeCon ectionIntheNewsACCCentersAC entersACCWeblinksAC WeblinksMobileGoCenterMobileGoCenter Welcome to College Connection Luanne Preston, Ph.D Executive Director, Early College Start and College Connections Austin Community College 5930 Middle Fiskville Road Austin, TX (512) (512) (fax) Mary Hensley, Ed.D Vice President, College Support Systems and ISD Relations Austin Community College 5930 Middle Fiskville Road Austin, TX (512) (512) (fax) du For additional information about ACC's College Connection Program, please contact Directory Educational Choices Educational Choices Costs & Financial Aid Student Support Library Locations Get Answers Costs & Financial Aid Student Support Library Locations Get Answers A C H o m eA C C H o m e » C ol le ge C on ne cti on at A us ti n C o m m un it y C ol le ge College Connection receives state and national recognition and awards: T e x a s H ig h e r E d u c a ti o n C o o r d i n a ti n g B o a r d 's S T A R A w a r d C o m m u n it y C ol le g e F u t u r e s A ss e m b ly B el l w et h e r A w a r d F i n al is t E x c el e n ci a i n E d u c a ti o n S e m if i n al is t Graduating seniors in Austin, Bastrop, Blanco, Del Valle, Elgin, Fredericksburg, Harper, Hays, Jarrell, Johnson City, Lago Vista, Leander, Liberty Hill, Lockhart, Luling, Manor, Nixon-Smiley, Pflugerville, Prairie Lea, Round Rock, San Marcos, and Smithville ISDs will now receive two sources of recognition when they walk across the stage to graduate: a diploma and an acceptance letter to college. This is due to a new, nationally recognized program called College Connection. Through the College Connection program, ACC will provide hands-on, one-on-one support to assist every student through each step of the college admissions process. College Connection will help increase the number of graduating seniors who enter college by creating an awareness of the benefits of going to college. Bringing this unique partnership to the community is an important step toward student success. By working together to “close the gap,” we can help improve the quality of life in Central Texas…one student at a time. "Suddenly, (going to college) changes from being a possibility to an expectation." -Raymund Paredes, Texas Higher Education Commissioner W eb m as te rW eb m as te r Di re ct or y C op yr ig ht L eg al N ot ic es A bo ut A C C C on ta ct A C C A C C H o m e L as t m od ifi ed : D ec e m be r : 22 p m | A us ti n C o m m un it y C ol le ge Di str ict A us ti n, T X Di re ct or y C op yr ig ht L eg al N ot ic es A bo ut A C on ta ct A C A C H o m e F ut u re S tu d e nt s F ut u re S tu d e nt s C u rr e nt S tu d e nt s F a c ul ty a n d S ta ff C o m m u ni ty a n d B u si n e ss N e w sr o o m A - Z I n d e x C u rr e nt S tu d e nt s F a c ul ty a n d S ta ff C o m u ni ty a n d B u si n e ss N e w sr o m A - Z I n d e x College Connection at Austin Community CollegeCollege Connection at Austin Community College A us ti n C o m m un it y C ol le ge M id dl e Fi sk vi lle R d. A us ti n, Te xa s A C C (4 22 2) Apply Apply Schedule Register Schedule Register B la c k b o ar d L o gi nB la c k b o ar d L o gi n A C C 1 0 1A C A C C A li v e T el et o u rA C A li v e T el et o u r T O P C A TT O P C A T E n E s p a ñ olE n E s p a ñ ol C ol le g e C o n n e ct io n H o m eC ol le g e C o n e ct io n H o m e S c h o ol D is tr ic ts P ar ti ci p at in g in C ol le g e C o n n e ct io nS c h o ol D is tr ic ts P ar ti ci p at in g in C ol le g e C o n e ct io n S te p s to C ol le g e C o n n e ct io nS te p s to C ol le g e C o n e ct io n A b o ut C ol le g e C o n n e ct io nA b o ut C ol le g e C o n e ct io n W h y C ol le g e C o n n e ct io nW h y C ol le g e C o n e ct io n A C C 's R ol e in C ol le g e C o n n e ct io nA C 's R ol e in C ol le g e C o n e ct io n W h at S tu d e nt s G etW h at S tu d e nt s G et A C C D e p ar t m e nt s in v ol v e d in C ol le g e C o nnectionA C D e p ar t m e nt s in v ol v e d in C ol le g e C o n ectionCollegeConnectionIntheNewsCollegeCon ectionIntheNewsACCCentersAC entersACCWeblinksAC WeblinksMobileGoCenterMobileGoCenter Welcome to College Connection Luanne Preston, Ph.D Executive Director, Early College Start and College Connections Austin Community College 5930 Middle Fiskville Road Austin, TX (512) (512) (fax) Mary Hensley, Ed.D Vice President, College Support Systems and ISD Relations Austin Community College 5930 Middle Fiskville Road Austin, TX (512) (512) (fax) du For additional information about ACC's College Connection Program, please contact

Austin Community College welcomes Blanco ISD into the College Connection Program

Mary Hensley, Ed.D. Austin Community College Vice President College Support Systems and ISD Relations 5930 Middle Fiskville Road Austin, TX (512) (512) (fax)

For a copy of this presentation: BoardPresentation.ppt