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Early College High School Parent Information Meeting / ECHS Powerpoint Presentation

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Four separate information sessions were held to present the Early College High School opportunity to parents of West Orange - Stark Middle School eighth grade parents. Parents unable to attend the meetings are encouraged to view the this presentation on-line.

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Welcome and thank you for taking the time to learn more about the Early College High School information and application process for the 2018-2019 school year. We hope this short presentation will be well worth your time.

A mission statement explains the reason an organization exists. Our mission statement is to reduce barriers for historically under represented populations to attend college, obtain college credit while in high school and transition to a four year university to complete a Bachelor’s degree upon graduating high school.

You might be asking yourself "What is Early College High School? Does my student go to school somewhere else?" ECHS is an innovative program that allows students entering ninth grade to receive an Associate of Liberal Arts Degree from Lamar State College - Orange upon graduating high school. This happens through a partnership between Lamar State State College - Orange and WOCCISD. The degree and all associated costs are absolutely FREE to students! The ECHS students remain on the West Orange - Stark High School campus and are still students of West Orange-Cove CISD. ECHS students, like any traditional LSCO student, have access to all amenities and services while enrolled in ECHS and Lamar State College - Orange.

In accordance with TEAs 2018-2109 ECHS blueprint, there are no longer any academic prerequisites or essay writing to be considered for admission. We have modified our admission procedures to reflect this change. In order to be considered for this year's ECHS class, students complete the ECHS application and return it to the Middle School counselor by February 2, 2018. The student and at least one parent or guardian attend a parent meeting with the ECHS Director and staff. All applying students interview with a committee.The district’s ECHS enrolls 25 students per year. In the event that more than 25 students apply, a weighted lottery process will be used to select the 25 students.

You might ask yourself, "So how is each ECHS “graded”? Well, the answer is each that ECHS in Texas is required to meet all design elements for each of the six benchmarks annually. Each ECHS in Texas is also required to meet Outcome-Based Measures on data indicators related to access, achievement and attainment. For more detailed information, you can visit TEA's website to obtain a copy of this year's blueprint

Benchmark One measures Target Population. It states that the ECHS shall serve, or include plans to scale up to serve, students in grades 9 through 12, and shall target and enroll students who are at risk of dropping out of school and who might not otherwise go to college.

Benchmark Two relates to the Partnership Agreement. It states that the ECHS shall have a current, signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for each school year that:
- Defines the partnership between the school district and the Institution of Higher Education (IHE)
- This MOU also states that the school district shall pay for college tuition, fees and required textbooks
- The MOU defines an active partnership between the school district and the IHE
- And the MOU also includes provisions and processes for collecting, sharing and reviewing program and student data to assess the progress of the ECHS.

Benchmark Three relates to Pre-school through Baccalaureate Leadership Initiatives. The school district and institution(s) of higher education (IHE) partners shall develop and maintain a leadership team that meets regularly  to address issues of design, implementation, ongoing implementation, and sustainability. Membership should include the Early College High School leader and individuals with decision-making authority from the district and IHE.

Benchmark Four measures Curriculum and Support. The Early College High School shall provide a rigorous course of study that enables a participating student to receive a high school diploma and complete the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s core curriculum, obtain certifications, or earn an associate’s degree, or earn at least 60 credit hours toward a baccalaureate degree during grades nine  through 12. The ECHS shall provide students with academic, social, and emotional support in their course of study.

Benchmark Five measures Academic Rigor and Readiness. The ECHS shall administer a Texas Success Initiative  or TSI College Placement Exam to all accepted ECHS students to assess college readiness, design individual instructional support plans, and enable students to begin college courses based on their performance on the exam.

Benchmark Six  relates to School Design. The Early College High School must provide a full-day program as defined by PEIMS, a community college liaison with decision-making authority, and a highly qualified staff with support and training.

"So How do I or my student apply for this amazing opportunity," you ask? Well, any eighth grade student that attends West Orange-Stark Middle School may request an application in the middle school counselor’s office. Once completed, it should be returned as soon as possible to the same office. Remember, applications are due by Feb. 2 of 2018. The application can also be downloaded or completely filled out online.

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Early College High School Parent Information Meeting / ECHS Powerpoint Presentation

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