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February 9, 2011 SUBJECT: Early College High School Designation Application and Planning Year Re:
Early College High School Designation Application and Planning Year Under the authority of Texas Education Code §29.908(b) and Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §102.1091, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) has developed a designation process for Early College High Schools (ECHS). The designation process will ensure that districts and colleges operating Early Colleges maintain the integrity of the model, which was researched and designed to target and serve students who would not otherwise consider attending college. In accordance with TAC §102.1091, the designation process is required for all existing and proposed ECHSs. Schools that receive the ECHS designation will receive a number of benefits including: ·
Recognition as
an Approved Early College High School: Schools designated by TEA as
state-approved ECHSs will receive various forms of media recognition including
but not limited to: inclusion on a map of state-approved ECHS, a listing on
TEA’s ECHS website (www.txechs.com), and
recognition in press releases. ·
Eligibility for
Exemption from Dual Credit Restrictions: The
program design of an ECHS focuses on allowing students to begin college courses
based on their performance—as soon as they are able, possibly as early as the 9th
grade. However, Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board (THECB) dual credit rules state that: 1.
a
student is eligible to enroll in dual credit
courses in the eleventh and/or twelfth grade if the student meets certain
eligibility requirements and 2.
high school students shall not be enrolled in more than two dual
credit courses per semester (see
appendices 5 and 6 for more information). Therefore,
in order to fulfill the program design, an institution of higher education
partner must receive
an exemption from dual credit restrictions through the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board (see Appendix 4 for THECB ECHS rules). ·
In
order to receive exemption from dual credit restrictions, an ECHS must first
receive approval from TEA through the ECHS designation process. ·
TEA
will then automatically forward approved ECHS applications to THECB in order to
request exemption from dual credit restrictions. ·
Approved,
designated ECHS will receive a designation packet from TEA that includes a
letter from THECB approving the waiver of dual credit restrictions. ·
Eligibility for
State Programs: Designated ECHSs may take advantage of
activities and programs designed by the Texas Legislature, TEA, and THECB to
target Early College High Schools.
Examples include, but are not limited to: 1. Optional
Flexible School Day:
a program created by the Legislature to provide ECHSs (and other specified
schools) with a flexible method of attendance accounting. This program is designed to enable school
districts or charters to receive funding for serving students outside of the
regular school day. 2. ECHS Convenings: Special events
hosted by TEA and THECB for ECHS administrators and principals to provide input
on policies and procedures that impact ECHS.
·
Membership in
the ECHS Network: TEA, THECB, and the Communities
Foundation of Texas (CFT)/Texas High School Project (THSP) periodically provide
opportunities for principals, teachers, and students in designated ECHSs in
Texas to network and share best practices through conferences and technical
assistance sessions. ·
Access to
Professional Development and Technical Assistance: Designated ECHS will have access to
high-quality professional development and technical assistance including: 1. Advice and
information from Site Design Coaches who have successfully facilitated the
design and implementation of the majority of ECHSs operating in Texas. 2. Opportunities to
attend high-quality, onsite professional development and training provided by
nationally-recognized technical assistance providers such as Jobs for the
Future and the Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT)/Texas High School Project
(THSP). The training provided by these
organizations is only available to designated ECHS, and it will be offered at a
reduced cost or for free when possible.
·
Recognition for
Fidelity to the ECHS Model: Through the designation process, TEA and
THECB formally approve and recognize those ECHS that are designed and operated
according to the ECHS design elements.
New – ECHS Planning Year TEA
has designed a self evaluation tool to help districts and their college
partners determine if their partnership is ready to apply for ECHS
Designation. Partnerships that require
additional time before applying for ECHS Designation may apply to participate
in an ECHS Planning Year. About TEA’s ECHS
Planning Year ·
Partnership
teams consisting of a school district and an institution of higher education
may apply to participate in the ECHS Planning Year. ·
TEA
will review applications and select partnership teams to participate in the
ECHS Planning Year. ·
If
selected for participation in the ECHS Planning Year, the superintendent and
the college president will be asked to formally agree to participate by
completing an assurance form. ·
The
ECHS Planning Year will be guided by the school district and the college with
technical assistance from TEA. ·
Participation
in the ECHS Planning Year is not a guarantee that partnership teams will
subsequently receive ECHS Designation. What to Expect
from TEA’s ECHS Planning Year ·
Partnership
teams must commit to participating in an eight-month planning process that will
begin no later than August 2010. ·
Partnership
teams will guide themselves through the planning process, by holding regular
design team meetings (at least twice a month), but teams will have access to an
ECHS Design Coach by phone and email. ·
The
planning process will begin with an evaluation tool administered by ECHS Coaches
that will assess the partnership between the school district and college and
identify areas of strength and opportunities for developing an ECHS model. ·
Based
on the evaluation tool, ECHS Coaches will provide the following: o Guidance for
fulfilling the required ECHS design elements included in the Designation
Application; o ECHS Design
Resources; o Examples of best
practice in ECHS design and implementation. ·
TEA
will provide a calendar of events, activities, and technical assistance that
will enable partnership teams to understand and develop the ECHS model. To Apply for ECHS Designation or the ECHS Planning Year: ·
Request
an application by e-mailing echs@tea.state.tx.us or calling
Kelty Garbee, TEA ECHS Program Manager at 512-936-2597. ·
Applications are
due to TEA on or before April 15, 2011 in order to open a campus as a
designated ECHS during the 2010-2011 school year. The TEA will notify each
applicant of its approval status to operate a designated ECHS by June 1, 2011. ·
Districts
must complete this application each year in order to renew ECHS Designation. Technical Assistance:
For assistance
completing the application: o
Currently
Designated ECHS may contact ECHS Coaches. o
New
applicants may contact Kelty Garbee, ECHS Program Manager at echs@tea.state.tx.us or by phone at
512-936-2597. Sincerely,
Barbara
Knaggs Associate
Commissioner State Initiatives  |
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