Catalyzing District-wide College and Career Readiness in Clint ISD. Overview and Lessons Learned April 2015

Transcription

1 Catalyzing District-wide College and Career Readiness in Clint ISD Overview and Lessons Learned April 2015

2 Executive Summary In 2010, Educate Texas (EdTX) identified a rural school district that could demonstrate how to use an early college high school (ECHS) as a catalytic model to scale ECHS practices (both design and instructional strategies) that enable all students to graduate college and career ready Targeting the focus on an economically disadvantaged rural community with capacity for reform, EdTX partnered with Clint ISD (CISD) and El Paso Community College (EPCC) to design an innovative, systemic ECHS initiative that aligned with their vision of college and career readiness for 11,000 CISD students From , supported by The Meadows Foundation and Greater Texas Foundation, EdTX collaborated with CISD and EPCC to understand their strengths and needs to develop strategies focused on improving student outcomes: Strategy 1: Successful launch of Clint ISD Early College Academy (CECA) Strategy 2: Design and deliver comprehensive professional development to support the district-wide implementation of rigorous instructional strategies Strategy 3: Construct district supports that enable sustainability After two full years of implementation, CISD is on track to achieve key outcomes and has set a course to fulfill its vision of college and career readiness for all 2

3 Community Profile Clint ISD Located in a high growth area 25 miles east of El Paso, Texas, the district encompasses square miles and serves three communities. Nearly 85% of its 11,800 students are considered economically disadvantaged. Many of its students are first generation college-goers. El Paso Community College Since 2005, EPCC has partnered with local school districts to create seven early college high schools. The community college currently serves more than 2,200 students in ECHS programs and enrolls more than 27,000 students at six campuses in El Paso county where the median household income is $40,157. EPCC has earned state and national recognition for its excellence in building and maintaining partnerships for ECHS. Source: CISD & EPCC,

4 Key Strategies for District-wide Transformation Educate Texas collaborated with CISD and EPCC to design strategies that enable all students graduate college and career ready Design an innovative, rural ECHS at a distance from EPCC Use the ECHS as a catalytic model for district-wide practices Strategy 1: Launch Clint ISD Early College Academy Strategy 2: Systemic Instructional Strategies Design and deliver a centralized professional development plan Staff coaches to train and support each campus Scale ECHS practice and design Develop a college-career culture district-wide Construct enabling factors to sustain district-wide transformation Strategy 3: District Supports 4

5 Timeline of Initiative Hired ECHS Principal Developed PD Plan with EdTX Recruited first ECHS cohort of students Hired Curriculm Coaches for each campus Developed District-wide College/Career for ALL plan 2013 Designed a transportation plan for students to travel to college campus Implemented Community Awareness Events (AP/DC/CTE/CECA) Published EdTX Evaluation Year 1 Implemented district-wide PSAT/SAT for all students Clint ISD/EPCC Grant Agreement Signed Launched of Steering Committee ECHS Site Selected Hired College Readiness Facilitators for each campus Implemented the Super Scholars Program 2012 Opened CECA Implemented PD for aligned instructional strategies district-wide with EdTX coaches Implemented district-wide College/Career for All Plan 60% of teachers trained in instructional strategies Aligned district AP/CTE/Dual Credit offerings Published EdTX Evaluation Year 2 Grant Ended 1/3 of CECA juniors on track to earn an AA degree in 2015 Clint HS designated a T-STEM Academy 5

6 Strategy 1: Launch CECA EdTX supported CISD and EPCC in launching an innovative rural ECHS that delivered positive student outcomes: 100% 80% 60% Student Characteristics 98% 95% 84% 86% % Hispanic % Eco Dis CECA 2014 Accountability Rating: Met Standard Distinction Designations: Academic Achievement in Mathematics Academic Achievement in Science Top 25 Percent: Closing Performance Gaps Postsecondary Readiness CECA (N=103) CISD (N=11,805) % Passing STAAR Exam CECA CISD ELA I 94% 63% ELA II 92% 61% Algebra I 99% 85% U.S. History 99% 92% Biology 100% 89% Average Daily Attendance CISD 95% Clint HS 95% Horizon HS 94% Mountain View HS 95% CECA 98% CECA demographics mirrored the district at large 40% of the students in the first cohort earned an Associate s degree their junior year in high school Average daily attendance and passing rates on STAAR exams exceeded both district and state Sources & Notes: Self-report and TEA TAPR. All data reported for the

7 Strategy 2: Systemic Instructional Strategies With a focus on improved instructional effectiveness in the classroom, EdTX and CISD developed and delivered a comprehensive professional development plan to build teacher, campus leader and central office capacity: District-wide EdTX coaching enhanced instructional coherence/culture and allowed leaders to focus on implementing other aspects of the initiative 66% of teachers are implementing the strategies 71% agree the strategies are improving their classroom instruction Training for new central office administration to ensured sustainability Learning has become student centered. Less teacher lecture and more student centered projects. CISD Curriculum Coach Notes: Survey administered Spring 2014 to CISD teachers. Findings based on 398 responses 57% response rate. 7

8 Strategy 3: District Supports Multiple strategies were developed to create the conditions that would sustain district-wide transformation: Shifting the College/Career Culture at all Campuses Increased parental engagement through community meetings Developed college expectations and knowledge through innovative programs Cradle to College: visits to every newborn in the community build the dream at an early age. Investing in Human Capital Embedded instructional coaches at all campuses Hired College Facilitators for each high school Expanding Opportunities for all Students Increased AP/dual credit course taking/success Identified strategic opportunities to refine CTE courses through an audit Offered PSAT/SAT free to all students A unique program, Bound for Success, puts Clint ISD seniors on a path to the University of Texas at El Paso. 8

9 Implications Going Forward Yes, you get to save a lot of money and yes, you get to go to college, but it s not just that. For me, it s that my personal life has changed. I ve learned to mature, to grow, to become more responsible. I ve learned things that are going to prepare me for my future life. Early College High Schools can succeed in a rural context Thoughtful planning with experienced partners can accelerate district-wide changes in practice and culture Limited external investment can yield immediate student savings and lead to gains in lifetime earnings Sthefania Gallegos-Perez, CECA student For more information contact Educate Texas at edtx@cftexas.org Notes: Based on analysis by EdTX, the average ECHS student in Texas will earn $250K over their lifetime. The average ECHS student accumulates 24 college credits generating savings of $1.8K per student based on average tuition and fees in Texas. Source: THECB Almanac & JFF 2011 Making the Grade: Texas Early College High Schools Prepare Students for College. 9