Virtual Early College High School

Virtual Early College High SchoolPresidio Independent School DistrictDennis McEntire and Guadalupe SinghThe University of Texas of the Permian BasinDan Keast and David WattsNational Conference on early College High School

The ChallengeWest TexasSize of GeorgiaVast distances: 230 miles from Presidio to OdessaChanging demographicsSmall population: 400,000Majority Mexican-American districtsEnglish as second languageLow socio-economic characteristics combined with oil boom.School districts that underperform TexasCollege-going rate underperforms Texas

The Early College High School:Remote High Schools Need Not ApplyIn the past, the ECHS had to be on the post-secondary institution campus or a school within a school or the entire high school near a college campus.Requires proximity so ECHS students can experience the higher education institution;College faculty need to be able to commute to the ECHS.Rural Texas1,265 districts in Texas; 448 are rural (35%).33 (19 rural) districts in Region 18; 12 (3 rural) in Region 19.Dual credit and Texas Virtual School Network (TxVSN).ECHS is more than dual credit.

Texas Institutions of Higher Education

Region 18 l District Midland/OdessaPresidioOnline EducationU.S. Dept of Education meta-analysis found online instruction more effective than face to face and less effective than blended.Online education is thought to not be effective for young people.Our experience is that high school students can focus and concentrate better with online.Who do you turn to for help with smart phone or computer?

Presidio ISD VisionFour Tier Program Options

Early College High SchoolDual Credit base Four Year IHE PartnerAll TSTEM Pathways availableGoal: Diploma and Associates Degree, Designated College MajorEarly Career and Certification High SchoolDual Credit and Blended BaseTwo Year IHE PartnerTSTEM Pathways Career SpecificGoal: Diploma and Industry Certification, Possible Post Secondaryand/or industry training

Vision(cont.) General Studies Traditional Class BaseHigh School Stand AloneAll TSTEM Pathways AvailableGoal: High School Diploma and possible post secondary continuation

Credit Recovery and Adult Diploma ProgramAll available resourcesPrimary program is self paced computer courses with supportSome traditional classes and blended format classesGoal: Diploma or GED

The Presidio Early College High School Begin As Freshmen in High SchoolPreparation Begins in the 8th grade with ACT testing and College writing.TSI Compliant or working on it.All students are eligible; must sign a contract with parents. Key elements are no absence, no tardy, no work accepted late and no discipline issues once in the program, complete parent involvement.All Dual Credit Course are on-line with Presidio Support.Course articulation created by UTPB/Presidio Collaboration.No cost to studentDual Credit Students Meet in Multiple classes each day with staff supportDaily Monitoring first two yearsBefore and after school supportSchool within a school formatAll core courses taken with ECHS designated facultyDedicated Administration and parent involvement staff

PISD/UTPB PARTNERSHIP:WHAT WE DO.Freshmen take one university course per semester online.Freshmen are coached by both UTPB and PISD.English composition teamTrips to Presidio and weekend workshops at UTPBUniversity instructors are aware of and responsive to differences in the two academic calendars.E.g., No pass no playWhat We Do:Summer and Other BridgesIntroduction to the university campusApplication and testingFaculty and AdvisingCampus housing and food service

What We DoPISD faculty professional development at UTPBUTPB faculty travel to PresidioBiology facultyComposition facultyDr. Keast: Music course

What We Do: Budget, Travel and StaffPresidio BudgetFourth poorest school in Texas98% Free and reduced lunch64% true poverty level74% ELLThe budget must be no more than what it would cost to educate mainstream high school students.Must be allocated from existing budget.ECHS population divided by high school total population equals percentage ECHS of the HS population.That percentage of the total high school budget becomes the ECHS budget on a yearly basis. (including Extra curricular, technology, staff, support services)Example: Total High School population: 400 studentsECHS Population: 100 Students (25%)High School Budget 2.0 MillionECHS Budget: $500,000.00The difference is the cost per course and books.this can be offset by a reduction in staff needs over time.

TravelThree one day trips per semester for registration, counseling and faculty conferencesTwo one day trips per semester for extracurricular involvementThree week long summer bridge trips for extension instruction, internships and college experiences.Existing staff and Trained Parents travel with the students minimizing staff costs.The cost of these trips is roughly equal to a high school basketball game trip. (possibly a little cheaper due to the use of parent trip sponsors)Mileage the same, fuel and vehicle the same, food the same, staff cheaper)

Presidio ISD StaffPrincipalParent Liaison/SecretaryThree core teachers (One of them a lead teacher)Two Paraprofessionals (course support) All other faculty and staff are shared with the regular high school

Meadows Foundation:Budget, Travel and StaffMeadows Foundation of Dallas, TX provides start-up support.Contributes to travel and staff.

Outcome MeasuresBeginning student numbersGraduating student numbersNumber of courses completedPercentage passing rate/completion ratePercentage post secondary begin/completionNumber of trips per yearCost per student

Hub and Spoke ModelUTPB as hub reaching out to remote districtsPresidio- 230 milesAndrews- 40 miles Rankin- 67 milesBalmorhea- 119 milesMarfa- 176 milesTerlingua- 232 milesHow It WorksBlackboard as LMSTrain student early on course navigation5+ face to face visitsHS freshmen vs. university freshmenJoin us for Jazz, Pop and Rock

ContactDennis McEntire, Superintendent, Presidio ISD dmcentire@presidio-isd.netGuadalupe Singh, Associate Superintendent, PISD gsingh@presidio-isd.netDan Keast, Associate Professor and Head of Music Program, UT Permian Basin keast_d@utpb.eduDavid Watts, President UT Permian Basin watts_d@utpb.edu