1. http://untavatar.org Module 1 1

2. Overview 2 AVATAR: Academic Vertical Alignment Training and Renewal http://untavatar.org

3. An African Proverb  It takes a village to raise a child. 3 http://untavatar.org

4. Students Counselors/ Advisers Parents Administrators Community Campus Staff Teachers 4 School/College as a Village http://untavatar.org

5. 5 Statewide Regional Partnerships http://untavatar.org

6. 6 1.Rationale 2.Partners and Roles 3.Critical Conversations 4.Use of Data 5.Action Plans This Module will introduce…

7. Rationale 7 http://untavatar.org

8. 1. Expand awareness of career and college readiness and vertical alignment. 2. Create regional vertical alignment initiatives. 3. Implement strategies to close regional academic course and expectation gaps. 4. Identify processes to assess and celebrate regional progress. 5. Share best practices statewide. 8 AVATAR Goals http://untavatar.org

9. AVATAR Rationale The AVATAR Process is built on Critical Conversations between secondary and postsecondary leaders and educators. The conversation is structured and facilitated in order to achieve course vertical alignment in content, cross-disciplinary, and college preparatory skills. 9 http://untavatar.org

10. Activity:  Go Round Robin and introduce the team members. What institution and campus do you represent? What is your role with students? Share an experience about the transition of a student from high school to college. 10 Team Member Introductions http://untavatar.org

11. Partners and Roles 11

12. http://untavatar.org WHO IS INVOLVED IN AVATAR? 12 http://untavatar.org

13. AVATAR is a Partnership of Regional Leaders From The Following Institutions 13 ScaffoldingStudentSuccess http://untavatar.org

14.  Partnerships: Leaders and educators representing regional independent school districts, two- and four-year institutions of higher education, P-16 councils, and education service centers are committed to vertical alignment to support students’ college and career readiness and success. 14 AVATAR Partners http://untavatar.org

15.  Build capacity to improve alignment between regional secondary and postsecondary courses and curriculum  Strengthen regional secondary and postsecondary commitment to and capacity for college preparedness and success for students 15 Partnership Benefits http://untavatar.org

16.  Are committed to higher education access and success for all students  Understand content course knowledge and skills  Utilize research-based instructional strategies  Demonstrate strong communication and leadership skills  Are effective team players  Are flexible – able to deal with ambiguity 16 AVATAR Partners and Team Members… http://untavatar.org

17. Education Service Center (ESC) or Others Who Serve as Facilitators/Coordinators  Convene a vertical alignment team (VAT)  Expand or create a regional shared college and career readiness foundation/understanding among the partnership and team  Support the P-16 council and the partnership in securing and reviewing their regional college and career readiness student data  Facilitate the vertical alignment critical conversations  Design and implement with the partnership their vertical alignment action plan 17 AVATAR Partners Roles and Responsibilities http://untavatar.org

18. Independent School District (ISD)  Identify campus or district leaders to participate and support vertical alignment partnership and team  Identify and support discipline specific teachers and leaders to participate in the vertical alignment process  Review and discuss course and instructional practices based on the VAT’s work  Expand and/or develop a campus or district vertical alignment plan for next academic year 18 AVATAR Partners Roles and Responsibilities http://untavatar.org

19. Postsecondary Education: Two- and Four-Year Institutions of Higher Education General/Core Education Leaders and Faculty  Identify campus, system, or district level leaders who are responsible for core or general education courses to participate in and support the vertical alignment partnership and team  Identify and support discipline specific faculty and leaders to participate in the vertical alignment process  Develop or review course syllabi and based on the VAT’s study of vertical alignment  Expand and/or develop a campus or district vertical alignment plan for the next academic year 19 AVATAR Partners Roles and Responsibilities http://untavatar.org

20. P-16 Council  Provide regional college and career readiness student data and prepare the regional data PowerPoint  Serve as the recorder for the regional vertical alignment team and partnership  Receive and respond to periodic reports on the progress of the partnership 20 AVATAR Partners Roles and Responsibilities http://untavatar.org

21. AVATAR Vertical Alignment Teams  Vertical Alignment Teams (VATs): Educators and leaders representing regional ISDs, two- and four-year institutions of higher education, P-16 councils, and ESCs are committed to addressing discipline specific course and instructional alignment needs to create environments where students can make successful transitions between and among regional educational systems. 21 http://untavatar.org

22. Critical Conversations 22 http://untavatar.org

23. Starting Points for Critical Conversations (What can you add?)  Heard from High School Students It’s OK. My mom was not good in math either. Chemistry? Not for me! I’m planning to be a doctor! Study? Not today! I have to work to keep my car running!  Heard from College Students Dr. Jones, how can I get some extra credit to make up for my low test score? Textbook? Why? I never used one in high school! Me, failing English? No one ever called me in to tell me! 23 http://untavatar.org

24. Student Success Assessments Dual Credit, Early College High Schools Student Support Services Educational Policies & 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 & Practices Classroom Instruction, Textbooks Grading, etc. Discipline Reference Course Profiles College & Career Readiness Standards Secondary Post-Secondary Graduate College/Career Ready Graduate Career Ready 24 http://untavatar.org

25. Use of Data 25 http://untavatar.org

26. Sources of Data Used by VATs  The Texas Education Agency (TEA) produces annually a Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR) for each campus, district, and region, and for the state. These reports provide student achievement and college readiness data by gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) produces an annual profile for each public college. Data are available that show what colleges students attend by high school and how they perform as well as admission, transfer, performance, and completion data for each college. 26 http://untavatar.org

27. Examples of Use of Data by VATS Region 16  Problem: When the VAT examined THECB data, they found the high school on the VAT did not feed the 2-year college.  Solution: The Regional P-16 Council invited the 2-year college fed by the active high school and the high school to which the active 2- year college was a feeder to join the VAT. Region 20  Problem: Region 20 formed VAT s for ELAR and math but found from TEA student achievement data that math was a higher priority concern.  Solution: The Partnership continued the math VAT and engaged the ELAR teachers in a supportive study of uses of language in teaching math. This strengthened the work of the math VAT. 27 http://untavatar.org

28. Sample THECB Data: Transfer Students to UT San Antonio from most common feeders, 2012 No Developmental Education N<2.02.0- 2.4 9 2.5- 2.9 9 3.0- 3.4 9 >3. 5 UnkEnrol l Fall ‘10 Developmental Education prior to Transfer TotalN<2.02.0- 2.49 2.5- 2.99 3.0- 3.49 >3.5 Unk Enroll Fall 2010 Alamo CCD Vista 434310955363493911235 Alamo CCD Palo A 72 46 9 81311 5 0 38 Alamo CCS SA390260 4660486144 1 217 SW TX Jr Coll. 51 26 6 8 6 5 1 0 21 Data show that for this cohort, transfer students to UTSA from SW TX JC were least likely to have been enrolled in Developmental Education and those from Alamo College San Antonio were least likely to earn a failing grade. http://untavatar.org

29. critical conversations  Creates and builds relationships through ongoing critical conversations regional data  Uses regional data to make alignment decisions  Develops shared understanding  Develops shared understanding of college and career readiness and success for students implements intentional actions  Identifies and implements intentional actions sustains  Evaluates, sustains, and shares vertical alignment work 29 The AVATAR Process http://untavatar.org

30. Action Plans 30 http://untavatar.org

31. Sample Action Plans Region 6  After study of vertical alignment in writing, an ELAR VAT developed the guidebook for alignment of high school and college writing, now available statewide. guidebook for alignment of high school and college writing Region 12  After study of vertical alignment inn ELAR and mathematics, both VATs selected craft materials focused on demonstrated areas of student need and employed a lesson study process to develop common understandings and instructional processes. 31 http://untavatar.org

32. Sample Action Plans for CPC College Preparatory Courses  Many VATS in 2014-15 will develop College Preparatory Courses in ELA or mathematics. Study of alignment issues will lead to actions planned for the next offering such as better alignment of tests and assignments to course objectives. College Preparatory Courses  After offering of a College Preparatory Course, develop an action plan around one or more of the following:  Better student performance  Stronger evidence of college readiness  Better alignment to the next college course in the core curriculum 32 http://untavatar.org

33. Steps toward AVATAR Outcomes 1. Identify key leaders and educators who make up a regional “pipeline” needed for students to be college and career ready and successful 2. Establish shared regional college and career readiness foundation/understandings 3. Use regional data to guide decision-making 4. Design and implement a vertical alignment action plan which will include critical conversations around specific courses needed for students to make academic progress 5. Design and implement a sustainability plan 6. Prepare students for college and career success 33 http://untavatar.org

34. Recap  Rationale  Partners and Roles  Critical Conversations  Use of Data  Action Plans 34 http://untavatar.org

35. Questions 35 http://untavatar.org

36. Find an inspirational quote to share 36 http://untavatar.org