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Early College High School Blueprint

Overview of Early College High School Model

Early College High Schools (ECHS) are open-enrollment programs that allow students least likely to attend college or who wish to accelerate completion of high school, to combine high school courses and college-level courses while participating in rigorous and accelerated instruction.

Early College High School Blueprint

  • The Blueprint identifies five benchmarks which serve as the foundational elements of the model and describes essential design elements for each benchmark. 
  • The Blueprint outlines the required design element artifacts to be published publicly and made available to TEA upon request. 
  • The Blueprint defines outcomes-based measures (OBMs) for required data indicators related to access, achievement, and attainment.

ECHS programs are required to adopt the design elements in each benchmark and meet OBMs to receive the Texas Education Agency (TEA) ECHS designation.

Early College High School Designation Process

The TEA designed a designation process for ECHS under the authority of Texas Education Code (TEC) §29.908(b) (2019) and Title 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §102.1091 (effective 2007). 

  • Designation is the process by which the TEA determines whether a school can fully implement the design elements of each benchmark and meet the OBMs. 
  • Designation, through the Program Application Cycle (PAC), is an annual requirement for ECHS programs.

Resources

Bryan Collegiate provides college experiences to high school students

Bryan Collegiate discusses increasing autonomy and responsibilty for students
View Bryan Collegiate provides college experiences to high school students

Bryan ECHS

Bryan ECHS Campus Spotlight

223 KB

Tags: Campus, ECHS, School

Colorado River ECHS

Colorado River ECHS Campus Spotlight

195 KB

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Dunbar ECHS

Dunbar ECHS Campus Spotlight

1 MB

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Killeen ECHS

Killeen ECHS Campus Spotlight

1 MB

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Memorial ECHS

Memorial ECHS Campus Spotlight

2 MB

Tags: Campus, ECHS, School

Northwest ECHS

Northwest ECHS Campus Spotlight

1 MB

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QUEST ECHS

QUEST ECHS Campus Spotlight

2 MB

Tags: Campus, ECHS, School

Shirleen Zacharias ECHS

Shirleen Zacharias ECHS Campus Spotlight

2 MB

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South Grand Prairie ECHS

South Grand Prairie ECHS Campus Spotlight

167 KB

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Victory ECHS

Victory ECHS Campus Spotlight

1 MB

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Poteet ECHS Leadership Team Description

Description of each member and role in the committee.

Elgin ECHS Marketing Brochure in English and Spanish

The Elgin ECHS brochure provides information on the program, how it is different from traditional dual credit, benefits of the program, how to apply, and other FAQs.

Achieve ECHS Admission Policy

This is an example of an ECHS's admission policy.

Akins ECHS & IHE Leadership Meeting Agenda

This is an example of an agenda of a ledership meeting with an IHE partner.

St. Phillip's College ECHS MOU with IHE

This is a comprehensive, signed, and executed memorandum of understanding with an IHE.

Hector J. Garcia ECHS Marketing Brochure in English and Spanish

This brochure provides information on the curriculum, advantages, extracurricular activities, and common instructional strategies of the ECHS.

Premont ECHS Marketing Brochure in English and Spanish

This brochure provides information on the advantages and requirements of the ECHS.

Gilliam Collegiate Academy Written Communication Plan

This is an example of a communication plan.

Dilley ECHS Written Communication Plan

This is an example of a communication plan.

Vistas ECHS Leadership Meeting Agenda

This is an example of a leadership meeting agenda.

Lassiter ECHS New Staff Member Mentor & Induction Plan

This is an example of a mentor/induction program plan for new staff.

Dallas College Educational Partnerships Site Team Meeting Agenda

This is an example of a meeting agenda with an IHE partner.