Texas High School Project Next Generation Investments in Promising Practices John Fitzpatrick

1. Texas High School Project Next Generation Investments in Promising Practices John Fitzpatrick THSP Executive Director February 23, 2010

2. THSP: A $346 Million Public-Private Alliance State of Texas Philanthropy

3. Number of Schools T-STEM ECHS 1-2 3-4 5+ # NSCS HSRR / HSRD THSP School Models Impact Students Across the State Statewide Impact • Focus on urban areas – Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin – and the Texas-Mexico border • Reach expanded to include more mid-size cities and rural locations with TEA partnership • Success has prompted districts to independently replicate school models with own funding Lubbock Dallas Ft Worth 10 El Paso Waco 5 Houston 7 Austin 5 6 19 San Antonio 9 Corpus Christi Brownsville 1 Through 2008-09 school year 2 Source: Texas Education Agency 2006-2007 academic year

4. CommonMetrics

5. Early College High School Overview Opportunity to earn a high school diploma and 60 credit hours toward an associate's degree and/or a baccalaureate degreeK-12 /Higher Ed Partnership • Expanded to 41 campuses this fall, up from 29 schools last year with more than 10,000 students • Majority of ECHS campuses are funded by the State • Based at community colleges, four-year universities and high school campuses

6. ECHS – Strong Academic Performance Math Commended State Average = 31% State Average = 71% Peer Group 64% Peer Group 15% ECHS 91% ECHS 36% ECHS students are 27 percentage points more likely than their peer schools and 20 percentage points more likely than students across the state to pass 9th grade Math TAKS ECHS students receive “Commended” honors on 9th grade Math TAKS at a rate 21 percentage points higher than peer schools and 5 percentage points higher than students across the state Source: AEIS, excludes SWS ** Source www.act.org *** Source: http://www.pearsoned.com/pr_2009/pearson_collegereadinesswp_60.pdf

7. ECHS - College- and Career-Readiness ECHS significantly outperform State, Peers* on Advanced Courses/Dual Enrollment Advanced/Dual Enrollment Completion • More than 1,100 students earned an average of 16 credit hours each in 2008-2009 • In total, those students saved approximately $4.5 million in college tuition, assuming average Texas college tuition rates** • Those savings translate into approximately $4,000 per student 2008-2009 68% 23% 20% ECHS PeerGroup State Source: from 2008-2009 AEIS; *“Peers” = Matched Group, and State Average; ** based on $250/credit per Texas State University

8. CommonMetrics

9. New Schools/Charter Schools Overview Supporting the creation of new campuses of high performing charter schools and new school sites of successful school developers targeting areas of high need • Provided support to 11 campuses and approximately 3,000 students in high-quality, college preparatory high schools • Produce measurable results beyond minimum state standards to increase college-going rates in Texas

10. NSCS – Academic Performance Math Commended NSCS students outperform both peers and state average schools State Average = 31% State Average = 71% Peer Group 71.6% Peer Group 17.9% NSCS 81.6% NSCS 35.1% NSCS students are 10 percentage points more likely than their peer schools and 9 percentage points more likely than students across the state to pass 9th grade Math TAKS NSCS students receive “Commended” honors on 9th grade Math TAKS at a rate of 17 percentage points higher than peer schools and 4 percentage points higher than students across the state Source: AEIS, excludes SWS ** Source www.act.org *** Source: http://www.pearsoned.com/pr_2009/pearson_collegereadinesswp_60.pdf

11. College and Career – Readiness Indicators NSCS schools significantly outperform both peer and state schools on Advanced Course/Dual Enrollment participation Advanced/Dual Enrollment Completion • NSCS Outperforms State and Peers* on Advanced Courses/ Dual Enrollment 58% 23% 13% NSCS PeerGroup State 2008-2009 Source: from 2008-2009 AEIS; only two schools reporting *“Peers” = Matched Group, and State Average;

12. CommonMetrics

13. High School Redesign Overview Providing struggling high school campuses with the resources to build capacity for implementing innovative, school-wide initiatives designed to improve student performance on the campus • Systemic turnaround of struggling high schools has been elusive • THSP has partnered with Mass Insight for a feasibility study on an “innovation zone” and Mass Insight has invited Texas to put forth a proposal to participate in the national turnaround initiative

14. HSRD Academic Performance While HSRD Schools are still underperforming the state, the rate of positive change in improvement is greater than the state change 2005-2009 Math Performance • In 2008-09, five of the nine schools reported improved percentages in students who met the standard for all three subject areas • Two of the schools earned “recognized” status in 2008-09 75 70 65 60 55 50 45 40 State gain is 6% and HSRD gain is 11% State HSRD 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Source: from 2008-2009 AEIS; for TSTEM, only four schools reporting (HSA-Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, YES) and data is skewed by 99% as reported by HSA Houston); straight average, *“Peers” = Matched Group, and State Average

15. CommonMetrics

16. Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics Overview Improving mathematics and science achievement among all Texas students Increasing the number of students who study and enter science, technology, engineering & mathematics (STEM) careers • Supported 46 T-STEM Academies in areas of high need across Texas, each year producing 3,500 Texas high school graduates from diverse backgrounds • Created 7 T-STEM Centers across the state that will facilitate the transformation of teaching methods, teacher preparation, and instruction in STEM fields • Coordinated a T-STEM Network to promote broad dissemination and adoption of promising practices

17. T-STEM – Strong Academic Performance 9th Math Commended T-STEM students outperform both peers and state average schools on 9th grade Math TAKS tests; commended levels are similar to the state average State Average = 31% State Average = 71% Peer Group 75% Peer Group 23% T-STEM 85% T-STEM 30% T-STEM students are 10 percentage points more likely than their peer schools and 14 percentage points more likely than students across the state to pass 9th grade Math TAKS T-STEM students receive “Commended” honors on 9th grade Math TAKS at about the same rate as students across the state but about 7 percentage points better than peers. ** Source: www.act.org *** Source: http://www.pearsoned.com/pr_2009/pearson_collegereadinesswp_60.pdf Source: AEIS, excludes SWS schools and Peak/Williams Prep due to discrepancy between TEA directory and ’07-08 data (per THSP)

18. T-STEM – College and Career Readiness T-STEM schools are similar to state/matched group (peers) on TEA’s college readiness indicators Advanced/Dual Enrollment Completion • T-STEM Outperforms Peers* on Advanced Courses/Dual Enrollment 2008-2009 56% 23% 17% T-STEM PeerGroup State Source: from 2008-2009 AEIS; for T-STEM, only four schools reporting (HSA-Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, YES) and data is skewed by 99% as reported by HSA Houston); straight average, *“Peers” = Matched Group, and State Average

19. Texas – Science, Tech, Engineering, Math Program Key Early College High School New Schools / Charter Schools High School Redesign (CFT) High School Redesign and Restructuring (TEA) 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 Growth of THSP Schools Since 2003-04 Total Number of Schools1 1 School counts listed above are cumulative and are included for a particular year if it is on or after the first year the campus enrolled students under THSP implementation; also includes four schools that have had funding status revoked in the current school year 2 HSRD is the only program that is considered both jointly funded by TEA and CFT/THSP

20. Our Mission To significantly improve the postsecondary readiness of low-income students with a focus on students in low performing schools. We develop practical insights and proven solutions that can be scaled in schools and districts throughout Texas based on our evidence and data analysis across the transition from middle school (8-9) through high school (9-12) and into postsecondary programs (four-year, two- year, and technical programs)

21. A Systematic Approach to Investments Is Required Focus Pick your battles and know how to win them Investment Model Frame strategic decisions around a formulaic approach and scope a value-add role Path to Scale Structure reforms to begin with the end in mind by outlining a path to high leverage

22. A Multi-Stage Approach Transitions Feedback and Redesigns One to a few instances Multiple, varied instances School systems across the state Scale Stage One Stage Two Stage Three

23. What Do We Believe Will Move the Needle? Impact Areas Definition Teacher Effectiveness • Teachers hired and developed to deliver strong student performance outcomes • Campus- and district-level leaders hired and developed to focus on instruction and lead operations efficiently Education Leadership Learning Systems • Rules and flexibility within the administrative and learning environment that support the personalization of learning at the student level Performance Management • Infrastructure and processes for identifying, tracking, and analyzing data critical to decision-making aligned with standards

24. Texas High School Project Next Generation Investments in Promising Practices John Fitzpatrick THSP Executive Director February 23, 2010