The Early College Success Story For more than seven years, the Early College High School Initiative has altered the landscape of the high school experience for thousands of students.  Academic acceleration—not remediation—coupled with careful sequencings and student supports have powered college-level learning and a college-going culture for students who are at risk of not graduating from high school or going to college.  Early college high schools are designed to dramatically increase the number of low income and minority youth who earn a postsecondary credential.  Pictured left: Texas Senator Royce West presents resolution to the Senate for the establishment of Texas Early College HIgh School Week.  See Press Release. Download printable version of information. The results speak for themselves.  Early college high school students outperform other students in their respective districts in terms of performance on state assessments and graduation rates.  Forty percent have a year or more worth of college credits under their belts, and 10 percent also graduate from high school with a college degree.  That equals a year or more of college that those students and their families do not have to pay for. These results are building momentum across the country.  Today, with the support of 13 intermediary organizations, more than 200 early college high schools in 24 states serve more than 40,000 students.  These results are building momentum across the country.  Today, with the support of 13 intermediary organizations, more than 200 early college high schools in 24 states serve more than 40,000 students.   In Texas, 29 early college high schools serve almost 8,000 students, with the support of the Texas High School Project (THSP), a public-private collaboration whose vision is for all Texas high students to graduate college ready, career ready and life ready.   Back to Top   Mission Early College High School - El Paso Community College and University of Texas El Paso TEXAS Early College High School Awareness Week The first annual Early College High School Awareness Week is sponsored nationally by Jobs for the Future (JFF) and statewide by THSP and the Texas Education Agency (TEA).  All organizations agree now is an opportune time to raise awareness of early college high schools and to promote strategies for helping increase the number of students who enter college ready and who earn a postsecondary credential.  TEXAS Early College High School Awareness Week, a grassroots educational awareness campaign, presents an opportunity for  schools to celebrate successes, expand their reach and impact, and deepen relationships with community stakeholders and the media. Throughout the entire week (Monday, May 4 to Sunday, May 10), each participating school will undertake at least one quality program from a menu of options (from school-centered activities like inviting media to a graduation rehearsal to profile graduates on track to receiving an Associate’s degree, to community-based events like receptions and exhibits recognizing leaders who have supported local scholastic achievement).  THSP will assist schools in developing, executing, and publicizing local events.  Also, THSP and the Texas Education Agency (TEA) will promote the entire week online.  Back to Top Scheduled Events Collegiate High School & Del Mar College sponsor Awareness Week Activities - May 4 - 8     (Details) Rapoport Academy Little Yellow Bus Tour, Rockets, and Robotics - May 8th (9:00-11:00)   (Details) Laredo ECHS Poetry Writing and Reading Contest at Texas A&M International University - May 5th Hidalgo ECHS Fine Arts Performance and Achievement Celebration - May 6th ECHS Cedar Valley Community Panel Discussion and Reception - May 7th (5:30) Transmountain ECHS Student Showcase and Panel - May 10th Cedar Hill ECHS Commmunity Panel Discussion - May 4th (5:30) ECHS Brookhaven Open House and Reception - May 6th (All day) Mission ECHS El Paso Community College Graduation Ceremony for 23 Students - May 15 Back to Top  Schools Participating   ► Mission ECHS, Socorro ISD - El Paso CC ► Laredo ECHS, Laredo ISD - TX A&M International University ► Mountain View ECHS, Dallas ISD – Mountain View CC ► Brookhaven ECHS, CFBISD – Brookhaven College  ► Early College High School with Cedar Valley College ► Hidalgo HS, Hidalgo ISD – UT Pan American University ► Victory ECHS, Aldine ISD - N Harris Community College ► Cedar Hill ECHS, Cedar Hill ISD - Cedar Valley College ► Panola ECHS, Charter School - Texas State Technical College ► Rapoport Academy T-STEM/ECHS - Texas State Technical College ► Collegiate HS, Corpus Christi ISD - Del Mar College ► Transmountain ECHS - El Paso CC ► Northwest ECHS Canutillo ISD - El Paso CC (ECHS/T-STEM) Additional ECHS Schools ► Brownsville ECHS - UT Brownsville & Texas Southmost College ► East Central HS, ECISD – UT San Antonio ► Southside HS,  SSISD – UT San Antonio ► Southwest HS, SWISD – UT San Antonio ► University Prep ECHS, Flour Bluff ISD - TX A&M Corpus Christi ► East ECHS, Houston ISD - Houston CC ► Challenge ECHS, Houston ISD - Houston Community College (Demonstration Site Grant) ► Bryan Collegiate, Bryan ISD - Blinn College & Texas A & M ► Clear Horizons ECHS, Clear Creek ISD - San Jacinto Community College  ► Valle Verde ECHS, Ysleta ISD - El Paso Community College ► Frenship Collegiate Preparatory High School, Frenship ISD - South Plains College ► Harlingen ECHS, Harlingen ISD - Texas State Technical College, Harlingen ► Houston Academy for International Studies, Houston ISD - Houston Community College   ► Progreso ECHS, Progreso ISD - South Texas College ► Travis ECHS, San Antonio ISD - San Antonio College of the Alamo Community College District  ► Mercedes Early College Academy, Mercedes ISD - South Texas College ► North Houston ECHS, Houston ISD - Houston Community College Northeast ► Legacy ECHS, Taylor ISD - Temple College		Key Resources Realizing the Dream - Early College High Schools Mission Early College High School Early College High School at Mountain View Early College High School at Cedar Valley College JFF Study:  Lessons from the Lone Star State
Messages, Data, and Goals Jobs for the Future has identified a national “add and subtract” message and data points for Texas Early College High School Awareness Week.   JFF encourages local partners and schools to tailor this message to local conditions and opportunities, including the use of local school data.  See JFF's Resource Page for additional information. The “Add” Message and Data - Students who enroll in an early college high school are immediately introduced to a nontraditional high school experience, where a student’s learning is accelerated by taking college courses in high school: 88 percent take at least one college course 40 percent earn at least a year’s worth of college credit 10 percent graduate high school with an Associate’s degree 77 percent are accepted to college (two-year or four-year) The “Subtract” Message and Data  - At the end of an early college experience, students unlikely to graduate from high school earn a diploma, college credit, and a college degree with significant savings of time and money: 10 percent of students shave two years of college expenses from their education (an average of $13,170 per student at public university) 40 percent of students reduce their time in college by at least one year (an average savings of $6,585 per student) With early college high schools currently serving 40,000 students, this is a combined savings of nearly $160 million a year for American families seeking to send their children to college The Goals of the Week Build local support through local and media visibility Promote the partner’s role in building a national network that achieves results for students Elevate the successes of early college high schools in the eyes of local and national funders Promote early college to local and national stakeholders and decision makers as an innovative model that works Inspire people to consider the role of education in their lives and the future of our country Motivate students from diverse backgrounds to graduate from high school and succeed in college  Back to Top Event and Activity Ideas The following ideas are a starting point to help schools develop programming that uniquely reflects their respective communities.  Although an activity can stand alone, schools can integrate several events in a week-long celebration that generates widespread appeal and media attention.    To get you started, we will provide a mandatory media kit including a THSP early college high school video, and other videos, including any specific to your school.  Schools will be required to screen THSP’s DVD, “Realizing the College Dream,” and clips from school specific videos to offer an insiders view at the early college high school experience. We strongly encourage your active participation.  1. Media/School-Centered Activities These activities could include but are not limited to: Holding a news conference to celebrate students graduating with an Associate’s degree or at least one year of college credit, to applaud students’ achievements and tout the financial savings to them and their families Connecting media with an early college graduate who is also marching with fellow Associate’s degree graduates at the local community college (for a feature) Releasing data on student achievement at the early college high school, preferably in comparison with that of the district or state as a whole (e.g., graduation rates, percent enrolled in college credit courses) Inviting media to a graduation rehearsal for a “sneak peek” at the students graduating with an Associate’s degree or those who have been accepted to college Inviting media to the release of the school yearbook, so students can show it off and reminisce on their positive, life-changing high school experience Submitting an op-ed by the district superintendent to a local newspaper, radio, or TV station or arrange for that person to be interviewed about the merits of early college 2. Community-Based Events The following ideas are broader, community-focused activities that may require more planning time and organizing capacity, but serve the added value of engaging an expanded audience. Panel Discussions - Schools could expand local awareness of education-related issues by inviting educators, scholars, advocates, or policymakers to discuss subjects that affect local education and student achievement, including dual enrollment policies within states. Suggested topics for speakers or a panel include: What is the connection between educational attainment and success in life? How can every young person complete a college degree? How do communities define success for their young people? How high can we aim? Workshops - Similar topics could be addressed in educator-led workshops for students, families, or teachers.  These would offer creative, hands-on opportunities for audiences to learn about early college and make personal connections to the importance of education and its impact on the community. School Receptions - Offer community members opportunities to meet the students and school staff at a reception. The reception could include a photo exhibit (or other type of display) featuring a day in the life of an early college student, an activity the school has undertaken to improve the community, or some other school-driven event. Schools could also honor a student, teacher, parent, or local leader at the reception. Exhibits - Partners can work with schools to increase local awareness and appreciation of the early college design with an exhibition featuring the literature, science, math, and other work of local students—a portfolio show akin to a cross-disciplinary science fair. These exhibits could illustrate the colleges to which students have applied or been accepted. Community members, faculty, and/or students who have contributed to the success of the school could be honored at a reception. Contests - Encourage local participation in a dialogue about education by sponsoring an Early College High School Week story-writing, poetry, or art contest for students and community members.  Showcase entries at an exhibit or event and invite community leaders to judge entries and award prizes.  The writing contest could be part of a reception or exhibit, with prizes donated by local businesses.  Schools would recognize all entrants with a letter or certificate.    Back to Top   Support from THSP, JFF & TEA THSP will advise on planning and promoting participating schools’ events, provide outreach to journalists, and produce a variety of print and electronic resources to help intermediaries and their schools convene Early College High School Week.  Printed materials will be free to participants while supplies last. Web site: A special section on the THSP Web site that provides resources for schools and the media, as well as electronic versions of all programming material, and a link for students to share their stories or comments. Flyers and postcards: Advertising materials to help publicize the events to community stakeholders Event video: The early college high school video, “Realizing the College Dream,” with recommendations for other videos suitable for local screenings  Back to Top		See the Jobs for the Future Resource Site