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Early College High School Program

EARLY COLLEGE BLUEPRINT

The Early College High School Program offers students the opportunity to graduate simultaneously with a high school diploma and an associate degree—all for free. ECHS is hosted through a partnership with Texas Southmost College.

In addition to earning college credit—up to 60 hours—and preparing for future professions, students save thousands of dollars in college costs. ECHS students are enrolled in both high school and college classes and receive support from HSI Brownsville teachers and their TSC professors to ensure that they are on the right track to a successful college career.

Benchmark 1: School Design

The Early College High School (ECHS) shall establish school structures and policies, regularly
convene leadership teams and ensure adequate staff capacity for the successful implementation and sustainability of the ECHS program.
ECHS/IHE leadership meeting agenda
School board and board of regents’ presentations
Strategic Priorities for the current academic year
Description of each member and role in the committee
Mentor/induction program plans
ECHS leader/liaison meeting agendas and relevant materials
Annual training or professional development plan for ECHS & IHE faculty

 

Benchmark 2: PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

The Early College High School shall have a current, signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for each school year that:
  1. Defines the partnership between the school district(s) and the institution(s) of higher education (IHE) and addresses topics including, but not limited to, the ECHS location; transferability of college credit between a 2-year and 4-year institution; the allocation of costs for tuition, fees, and textbooks; and student transportation;
  2. States that the school district or charter in which the student is enrolled shall pay for college tuition (for all dual credit courses, including retakes), fees (including TSI administration fees), and required textbooks to the extent those charges are not waived by the partner IHE;
  3. Defines an active partnership between the school district(s) and the IHE(s), which shall include joint decision-making procedures that allow for the planning and implementation of a coherent program across institutions; and • Includes provisions and processes for collecting, sharing, and reviewing program and student data to assess the progress of the ECHS.

 

Benchmark 3: Target Population

The Early College High School (ECHS) shall target and enroll historically underserved students. The campus must enable students who are at-risk of dropping out or those who wish to accelerate completion of high school to combine high school courses and college-level courses. Every ECHS must enroll at least a 9th grade class during their first year of implementation. If an ECHS phases out their services, the academy must be prepared to provide services to each enrolled cohort through graduation. 

 

Written admission policy
Enrollment application
Written recruitment plan
Brochures
Written communication plan for targeting identified audiences
Written lottery procedures

 

Benchmark 4: Academic Infrastructure

The Early College High School (ECHS) must provide a rigorous course of study that allows students the opportunity to earn a high school diploma and enable a student to combine high school courses and college-level courses with the goal of earning an associate degree or up to 60 semester credit hours toward a baccalaureate degree. 

ECHS Crosswalk
Master Schedule
Calendar of TSIA scheduled test administration dates
Aggregate reports of TSIA exam performance
Testing calendar and schedule for SAT, ACT, or other college readiness assessments

Benchmark 5: Student Supports

The Early College High School (ECHS) must provide wrap-around strategies and services involving multiple stakeholders to strengthen academic, technical, and individual support for students to be successful in their ECHS program. 

Bridge program curriculum and schedule​
Schedule of advising events
Tutoring schedules
Advisory/study skills curriculum material
Calendar of enrichment events and family outreach events