Download
1 / 21
E N D
Travis ECHS at SAC The Travis Early College High School Program (ECHS) affords students, who are traditionally underserved, access to higher education. Students have the opportunity to earn up to two years of college credit (60 hours) and/or an associates degree while earning a high school diploma. San Antonio College has partnered with SAISD and Travis Early College High School since 2008.
San Antonio College • Program Staff • Ray Hernandez, M.A. Director Early College Programs • Directs TECHS operations at SAC and coordinates with TECHS Principal, Adrianna Arredondo. • Patricia Sanchez, M.A. Coordinator of HS Programs • Assists with TECHS operations at SAC and coordinates with TECHS • Steve Ochoa, Faculty Liaison • Coordinates SAC faculty teaching TECHS and supports student academics in conjunction with Director, Ray Hernandez and Principal, Adrianna Arredondo • Rebecca Ash, M.A. Travis/SAC Certified Advisor • Conducts TECHS academic advising in conjunctions with TECHS Counselor, Jovita Ratnayeke. • Cynthia Marquez, A.A. Senior Generalist of Student Success • Coordinates TECHS Registration
Travis ECHS • Program Staff • Adrianna L. Arredondo, Principal • Directs operations at Travis ECHS and the ECHS program at SAC, maintains scheduling, hiring and budget autonomy. • Dr. Irene O. Cruz, Assistant Principal • Supports operations at Travis ECHS and the ECHS program at SAC, to include course requests, master scheduling, testing, programs, textbooks and attendance • Jovita Ratnayeke, Lead Counselor • Supports Travis ECHS students through registration, testing, advising of high school and college course completion in conjunction with SAC advisor, and providing social/emotional support. • Teaching Staff • Highly qualified ECHS teachers who work directly with the ECHS students, including adjunct high school faculty qualified to teach college-level courses.
Why choose an EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL? Early College High Schools (ECHS) are innovative high schools that allow students least likely to attend college an opportunity to earn a high school diploma and 60 college credit hours. Early College High Schools: • provide dual credit at no cost to students • offer rigorous instruction and accelerated courses • provide academic and social support services to help students succeed • increase college readiness, and • reduce barriers to college access. (https://tea.texas.gov/ECHS/)
Benchmark 1: Target PopulationTECHS Application process • The ECHS shall identify, recruit, and enroll subpopulations that are historically underrepresented in higher education • Prospective student applies during 8th grade. A weighted system lottery used to determine eligibility. • Selected students participate in TECHS Summer Bridge. Parents and students attend orientation in the fall. • 9th grade students enroll in 4 core courses, AVID, 2 elective courses, and 2 support classes.
Benchmark 2: Partnership Agreement The Early College High School shall have a current, signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for each school year that: • 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; the allocation of costs for tuition, fees, and textbooks; and student transportation • States that the school district hall pay for college tuition, fees, and required textbooks to the extent those charges are not waived by the partner IHE • 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 • Includes provisions and processes for collecting, sharing, and reviewing program and student data to assess the progress of the ECHS.
Benchmark 3: Leadership Initiatives The ECHS shall establish a leadership team that includes high-level personnel with decision-making authority who meet regularly and report to each organization. The following must be addressed: • Annually review the MOU for necessary revisions • Assume shared responsibility for meeting annual outcomes-based measures and providing annual • Monitor progress on meeting the Blueprint, including reviewing data • Guide mid-course corrections as needed
Benchmark 4: Curriculum and Support • Travis ECHS provides a rigorous course of study that enables all participating students to receive a high school diploma and complete the core curriculum or the associated degree or at least 60 credit hours toward a baccalaureate degree during grades 9-12. The high school will provide students with academic, social, and emotional support during their course of study.
Academic advising for EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL All students participate in academic advising through the AVID classroom on a daily basis: Focus on Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, Critical Reading, College and Career Exploration, Academic Support/Advocacy • 12th Grade - Individual Advising with all seniors during Fall & Spring to ensure college degree plan understanding & completion • 11th Grade - GroupAdvising during Fall; Individual Advising during Spring - Credit check & projection of degree completion (evening session w/student & parents) • 10th Grade - Group Advising during Spring; Moving toward individual advising – understanding college degree plan • 9th Grade - Group Advising (evening session w/ student & parents) during Fall on college expectations; Small Group Advising – ‘College 101’ during Fall
Academic Advising • Overall goal is to mirror services available to general SAC students • Advising services have become much more intentional • Provide support to students requiring more intense individual advising and resources ROUGH DRAFT
Benchmark 5: Academic Rigor and Readiness Travis ECHS administers the Texas Success Initiative, TSI, college placement exam to all accepted students to assess readiness, design individual instructional plans, and enable students to begin college courses based on their performance.
SAC Course scheduling • 9th grade – Spring semester enroll in 2 SAC elective designated courses to include EDUC 1300 (Student Development) and KINE 1304 • 10th grade – Fall/Spring enroll in 2 TECHS/SAC designated elective courses per semester • 11th grade – Fall/Spring enroll in 4 TECHS/SAC designated core courses per semester to include some mixed SAC courses • 12th grade – Fall/Spring enroll in 4 TECHS/SAC, but individual schedules may vary based on graduation requirements (core/elective)
Challenges for EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL • Transitioning to the academic rigor and pace of the Early College High School program • Time management and balancing high school course load, college classes, extracurriculars, and home life • Alamo College Instructors inconsistent use of CANVAS—student online feedback medium • Choosing a best-fit/best-match 4-year institution • Transitioning to a 4-year institution post-graduation
Travis Spring 2017 Graduation Report *1 Student awarded both AA and Certificate.
