Title I SIP Funding for Continuation of College Readiness Models

1. Title I SIP Funding forContinuation of College Readiness Models

2. What are the three college Readiness Models? • Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (T-STEM) academy • Early College High School (ECHS) • College for All campus (CFA)

3. T-STEM Academy model • T-STEM academies are rigorous secondary schools focused on improving instruction and academic performance in the STEM areas and increasing the number of students who study and enter STEM careers. T-STEM academies are demonstration schools and learning labs that develop innovative methods to improve science and mathematics instruction.

4. ECHS model • ECHSs are autonomous, small schools designed to create a seamless transition between high school and college. ECHSs provide a course of study that enables students to receive both a high school diploma and either an associate’s degree or at least 60 credit hours toward a baccalaureate degree. Strong collaborative partnerships between schools and the IHE are developed to ensure the ECHS design elements are met.

5. CFA Model • CFA model infuses college-ready reforms into a campus to enable every student to graduate with a minimum of 12 college-level credits and prepared to earn a post-secondary credential or degree. Design elements/strategies for this model include : • 1) comprehensive district approach; • 2) college-ready curriculum and instruction program; • 3) strong P-16 partnerships; • 4) comprehensive academic and social supports; • 4) intensive summer academy for rising ninth graders including administration of a Texas Success Initiative assessment to determine level of readiness for college-level courses; and • 6) college-going culture.

6. Campuses eligible for the incentive • Any SIP campus that either: • Is fully or provisionally designated by TEA as a T-STEM Academy or as an ECHS; OR • Has been awarded a TTIPS grant to implement one of the three models

7. Description of Incentive • Funds are available to implement or strengthen any of the following design activities • For T-STEM academies, those activities listed in the T-STEM Blueprint http://www.thsp.org/programs/t-stem/ • For ECHS, those activities listed in the ECHS Design document http://www.txechs.com/downloads/4_echs_design_elements_template.pdf • For CFA, those activities listed in the Hidalgo case study • http://www.jff.org/sites/default/files/college_success_for_all.pdf

8. Benefits of Selecting Incentive • Enables a campus to accelerate or deepen the model’s implementation • Enables a campus to engage additional coaching resources • Enables a campus to hire staff, purchase materials, or provide student supports - such as tutoring, - needed to implement the model

9. Commitments and requirements of selecting the incentive • Must use funds specifically to implement the model in compliance with implementation documents listed in slide entitled “Description of incentive”

10. Considerations and interest in selecting the incentive • This incentive is not for schools interested in beginning implementation of one of the models, but rather for those that have already begun implementation • Implementation of these models is a multi-year process of at least five years. Consequently, those selecting this incentive should be interested in a long-term commitment to the model • Campuses selecting this model may wish to consult the T-STEM or ECHS coach currently assigned to the campus for ideas on how best to use the funds

11. Contact person for the incentive • For T-STEM model, contact Stacy Avery at TEA stacy.avery@TEA.state.tx.us or 512-463-2811 • For ECHS model, contact Laura Gaines at TEA laura.gaines@tea.state.tx.us or 512-463-7746 • For CFA model, contact Jan Lindsey at TEA jan.lindsey@tea.state.tx.us or 512-936-2283

12. Texas Education Agency • 1701 N. Congress Ave. • Austin, TX 78701 • www.tea.state.tx.us