TEA Announces Early College High School Designations

Commissioner of Education Michael Williams recently announced final approval of 44 Early College High School (ECHS) designations for the 2015-2016 school year. With these designations, Texas will become home to 154 ECHS campuses across the state, several of which are in Region 7 area.

Early college high schools are innovative high schools that allow students least likely to attend college an opportunity to earn a high school diploma and either an associate degree or at least 60 college credit hours toward a baccalaureate degree. Under this model, an ECHS provides dual credit at no cost to students; offers rigorous instruction and accelerated courses; provides academic and social support services to help students succeed; increases college readiness; and reduces barriers to college access.

“School districts continue to see the value in providing an avenue for students to not only earn college credit, but also potentially earn an associate’s degree while still in high school,” said Commissioner Williams. “Texas remains a national leader in the early college high schools and will continue to be as more districts and charters embrace this innovative concept.”

School districts, charters and campuses given final approval for a 2015-2016 ECHS designation include:

·         Abilene ISD – Holland Medical Early College High School

·         Alice ISD – Alice Early College High School

·         Austin ISD – South Austin Early College High School at Travis

·         Brownsville ISD – Gladys Porter Early College High School

·         Del Valle ISD – Del Valle Early College High School

·         Diboll ISD/Hudson ISD/Lufkin ISD – Angelina County Cooperative CTE Early College High School

·         Dilley ISD – Dilley Early College High School

·         Ector County ISD – ECISD Early College High School Academy

·         Fort Worth ISD – Tarrant County College South/Fort Worth ISD Collegiate High School

·         Freer ISD – Freer Early College High School

·         Galena Park ISD – Galena Park Career and Technical Early College High School

·         Grand Prairie ISD – Grand Prairie Early College High School

·         Grand Prairie ISD – South Grand Prairie Early College High School

·         Harlingen CISD – Harlingen High School

·         Harlingen CISD – Harlingen High School South

·         Hays CISD – Hays Early College High School

·         Jim Hogg County ISD – Hebbronville Early College High School

·         Karnes City ISD – Karnes City High School Early College High School

·         Killeen ISD – Killeen ISD Early College High School

·         La Vega ISD – La Vega Early College High School

·         Longview ISD – Longview Early College High School

·         Miami ISD – Miami High School

·         Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD – Pecos High School

·         Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD – PSJA Elvis J. Ballew High School

·         Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD – PSJA College, Career and Technology Academy

·         Riviera ISD – Riviera Seahawk Early College Academy

·         Royal ISD – Royal STEM Academy

·         San Antonio ISD – Early College Academy at G. W. Brackenridge High School with St. Philip's College

·         San Diego ISD – San Diego Early College High School

·         San Felipe Del Rio CISD – Del Rio Early College High School

·         Slaton ISD – Slaton High School

·         Socorro ISD – Socorro Early College

·         South San Antonio ISD – South San Antonio Early College High School

·         Tioga ISD – Tioga Early College High School

·         Tyler ISD – Tyler ISD Early College High School

·         United ISD – United Early College High School

·         Weslaco ISD – Weslaco Early College High School

·         Weslaco ISD – Weslaco East Early College High School

·         West Oso ISD – West Oso High School

·         Wink-Loving ISD – Wink-Loving Early College Academy

In addition to the ECHS designations listed above, four ECHS campuses with a career technical education (CTE) focus will be designated as part of the tri-agency CTE ECHS Initiative by the Texas Education Agency, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and Texas Workforce Commission. School districts and campuses to be designated as part of the CTE ECHS Initiative include:

·         Alief ISD – Alief CTE Early College High School

·         Dallas ISD – H. Grady Spruce High School

·         Ector County ISD – Odessa College Technical Early College High School

·         Houston ISD – Houston CTE Early College High School

A school district or charter must obtain an ECHS designation from the Texas Education Agency to allow high school students to enroll in more than two dual credit courses per semester and enroll in dual credit coursework with freshman or sophomore standing.

School districts and charters approved for an ECHS designation must complete technical assistance activities during the spring. In addition, a final, signed memorandum of understanding with an institution of higher education partner must be submitted to TEA before the start of the 2015 school year.

More information about early college high schools can be found on the TEA web site at http://tea.texas.gov/index2.aspx?id=4464&menu_id=814.