Announcements
Early College High School Designation Application Timeline
In order to operate as a TEA-approved Early College High School, a district or charter and its partnering institution(s) of higher education must seek and receive Early College High School designation from the Texas Education Agency on behalf of the ECHS campus. Below is a timeline of the ECHS designation process.
| March 2012 | ECHS Designation Application available
Please email laura.gaines@tea.state.tx.us for a copy of the application. |
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March 21, 2012 | Technical Assistance Webinar
Applicants may register at:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/458366250 |
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| April 10, 2012 | Application Due Date
Applications must be received at TEA no later than 5:00 pm on
April 10, 2012 in order to be considered for designation as an ECHS
in the 2012-2013 school year. |
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| June 1, 2012 | Notification of Designation |
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Early College High Schools (ECHS) are innovative high schools located on or in close proximity to a college campus 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
- Reduce barriers to college access
ECHS Designation
In spring 2009, TEA implemented a designation process to identify and recognize those schools, whether THSP-funded or locally-funded, that demonstrate adherence to the key components of the ECHS model that make it so successful.
The Texas Education Agency focuses state and federal resources on identifying and replicating proven strategies for dropout prevention and recovery. Early College High Schools encourage rigorous and relevant instruction to better engage students in learning academic and social skills necessary to complete high school and to prepare them for postsecondary success.
School districts and open enrollment charter schools in partnership with an institution of higher education located on or in close proximity to a college campus
- Number of Early College High Schools in Texas: 44
- Number of Texas Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (T-STEM) Early College High Schools in Texas: 5
Of those Early College High Schools that have been in operation long enough to earn state accountability ratings:
- 24 schools are Exemplary
- 7 schools are Recognized
Students served: 10,000 (estimate Nov. 2010)
- In 2008-2009, over 1,100 ECHS students earned an average of 16 credit hours each.
- These 1,100 students saved approximately $4,000 each or $4.5 million in college tuition.
- In May 2010, 900 students graduated from 11 Early College High Schools – this is the first cohort of ECHS students in Texas.
- These 900 students collectively earned over $5.6 million in college scholarships.
- Of these 900 students, 308 graduates earned an Associate’s degree and their high school diploma at the same time.
- In spring 2009, TEA implemented a designation process to identify and recognize those schools, whether THSP-funded or locally implemented, that demonstrate adherence to the key components of the ECHS model that make it so successful.
Findings from the Evaluation of the Texas High School Project: Second Annual Comprehensive Report by SRI, International released December 2010 include:
- ECHS students in 9th grade were twice as likely to meet or exceed TAKS standards in Reading and Math.
- 10th grade ECHS students were 2.3 times more likely to meet or exceed TAKS on all subject areas.
- ECHS students demonstrated a significantly greater likelihood of being promoted to 10th grade than students at comparison schools not implementing ECHS.
- Texas Education Agency Funding (FY2007-2010): $12,110,463
- Communities Foundation of Texas Funding (FY2007-2010): $7,710,000
- Texas Early College High School Initiative Total: $19,820,463
- Locally funded -- 7 ECHS
- Other TEA or private funding -- 3 ECHS
Laura Gaines
Program Coordinator
laura.gaines@tea.state.tx.us
Texas Education Agency
1701 North Congress Avenue
Austin, Texas 78701-1401
(512) 463-9581
Curriculum Division
curriculum@tea.state.tx.us
(512) 463-9581