Texas High School ProjectNext Generation Investments

in Promising Practices

John Fitzpatrick

THSP Executive Director

February 23, 2010

THSP: A $346 Million Public-Private Alliance

PhilanthropyState of Texas

THSP School Models Impact Students Across the State

Statewide Impact• Focus on urban areas –

Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin – and the Texas-Mexico border

• Reach expanded to include more mid-size cities and rural locations with TEA partnership

• Success has prompted districts to independently replicate school models with own funding

1 Through 2008-09 school year2 Source: Texas Education Agency 2006-2007 academic year

T-STEM

ECHS

NSCSHSRR / HSRD

WacoEl Paso

Lubbock

Ft Worth

Dallas

HoustonAustin

San Antonio

Brownsville

Corpus Christi

1-2 3-4

#

5+

Number of Schools

7

9

19

10

5

56

CommonMetrics

Early College High School Overview

• Expanded to 41 campuses this fall, up from 29 schools last year with more than 10,000 students

• Majority of ECHS campuses are funded by the State

• Based at community colleges, four-year universities and high school campuses

Opportunity to earn a high school diploma and 60 credit hours toward an associate's degree and/or a baccalaureate degree

K-12 /Higher Ed Partnership

ECHS – Strong Academic Performance

Math Commended

State Average = 71% State Average = 31%

Peer Group

ECHS

Peer Group

ECHS

64%

91%

15%

36%

ECHS students are 27 percentage points more likely than their peer schools and 20 percentage points more likely than students across the state to pass 9th grade Math TAKS

ECHS students receive “Commended” honors on 9th grade Math TAKS at a rate 21 percentage points higher than peer schools and 5 percentage points higher than students across the state

Source: AEIS, excludes SWS ** Source www.act.org*** Source: http://www.pearsoned.com/pr_2009/pearson_collegereadinesswp_60.pdf

ECHS - College- and Career-Readiness

ECHS significantly outperform State, Peers* on Advanced Courses/Dual Enrollment

• More than 1,100 students earned an average of 16 credit hours each in 2008-2009

• In total, those students saved approximately $4.5 million in college tuition, assuming average Texas college tuition rates**

• Those savings translate into approximately $4,000 per student

68%

20% 23%

ECHS PeerGroup

State

Source: from 2008-2009 AEIS;*“Peers” = Matched Group, and State Average; ** based on $250/credit per Texas State University

Advanced/Dual Enrollment Completion2008-2009

CommonMetrics

New Schools/Charter Schools Overview

• Provided support to 11 campuses and approximately 3,000 students in high-quality, college preparatory high schools

• Produce measurable results beyond minimum state standards to increase college-going rates in Texas

Supporting the creation of new campuses of high performing charter schools and new school sites of successful school developers targeting areas of high need

NSCS – Academic Performance

Math Commended

State Average = 71% State Average = 31%

Peer Group

NSCS

Peer Group

NSCS

71.6%

81.6%

17.9%

35.1%

NSCS students are 10 percentage points more likely than their peer schools and 9 percentage points more likely than students across the state to pass 9th grade Math TAKS

NSCS students receive “Commended” honors on 9th grade Math TAKS at a rate of 17 percentage points higher than peer schools and 4 percentage points higher than students across the state

Source: AEIS, excludes SWS ** Source www.act.org*** Source: http://www.pearsoned.com/pr_2009/pearson_collegereadinesswp_60.pdf

NSCS students outperform both peers and state average schools

College and Career – Readiness Indicators

NSCS schools significantly outperform both peer and state schools on Advanced Course/Dual Enrollment participation

• NSCS Outperforms State and Peers* on Advanced Courses/ Dual Enrollment

58%

13%

23%

NSCS PeerGroup

State

2008-2009

Source: from 2008-2009 AEIS; only two schools reporting*“Peers” = Matched Group, and State Average;

Advanced/Dual Enrollment Completion

CommonMetrics

High School Redesign Overview

• Systemic turnaround of struggling high schools has been elusive

• THSP has partnered with Mass Insight for a feasibility study on an “innovation zone” and Mass Insight has invited Texas to put forth a proposal to participate in the national turnaround initiative

Providing struggling high school campuses with the resources to build capacity for implementing innovative, school-wide initiatives designed to improve student performance on the campus

HSRD Academic Performance

While HSRD Schools are still underperforming the state, the rate of positive change in improvement is greater than the state change

• In 2008-09, five of the nine schools reported improved percentages in students who met the standard for all three subject areas

• Two of the schools earned “recognized” status in 2008-09

Source: from 2008-2009 AEIS; for TSTEM, only four schools reporting (HSA-Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, YES) and data is skewed by 99% as reported by HSA Houston); straight average, *“Peers” = Matched Group, and State Average

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

75

70

65

60

55

50

45

40

HSRD

State

State gain is 6% and HSRD gain is 11%

2005-2009 Math Performance

CommonMetrics

Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics Overview

• Supported 46 T-STEM Academies in areas of high need across Texas, each year producing 3,500 Texas high school graduates from diverse backgrounds

• Created 7 T-STEM Centers across the state that will facilitate the transformation of teaching methods, teacher preparation, and instruction in STEM fields

• Coordinated a T-STEM Network to promote broad dissemination and adoption of promising practices

Improving mathematics and science achievement among all Texas studentsIncreasing the number of students who study and enter science, technology, engineering & mathematics (STEM) careers

T-STEM – Strong Academic Performance

9th Math Commended

State Average = 71% State Average = 31%

Peer Group

T-STEM

Peer Group

T-STEM

75%

85%

23%

30%

T-STEM students are 10 percentage points more likely than their peer schools and 14 percentage points more likely than students across the state to pass 9th grade Math TAKS

T-STEM students receive “Commended” honors on 9th grade Math TAKS at about the same rate as students across the state but about 7 percentage points better than peers.

** Source: www.act.org*** Source: http://www.pearsoned.com/pr_2009/pearson_collegereadinesswp_60.pdfSource: AEIS, excludes SWS schools and Peak/Williams Prep due to discrepancy between TEA directory and ’07-08 data (per THSP)

T-STEM students outperform both peers and state average schools on 9 th grade Math TAKS tests; commended levels are similar to the state average

T-STEM – College and Career Readiness

T-STEM schools are similar to state/matched group (peers) on TEA’s college readiness indicators

• T-STEM Outperforms Peers* on Advanced Courses/Dual Enrollment

56%

17%

23%

T-STEM PeerGroup

State

2008-2009

Source: from 2008-2009 AEIS; for T-STEM, only four schools reporting (HSA-Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, YES) and data is skewed by 99% as reported by HSA Houston); straight average, *“Peers” = Matched Group, and State Average

Advanced/Dual Enrollment Completion

Growth of THSP Schools Since 2003-04

2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09

Texas – Science, Tech, Engineering, Math

Program Key

High School Redesign (CFT)New Schools / Charter Schools

High School Redesign and Restructuring (TEA)

Early College High School

1 School counts listed above are cumulative and are included for a particular year if it is on or after the first year the campus enrolled students under THSP implementation; also includes four schools that have had funding status revoked in the current school year2 HSRD is the only program that is considered both jointly funded by TEA and CFT/THSP

Privately-funded 0 3 5 28 46 59

Publicly-Funded 1 1 13 34 64 90

Jointly-Funded2 0 0 0 14 23 23

Total Number of Schools1

Our Mission

To significantly improve the postsecondary readiness of low-income students with a focus on students in low performing schools.

We develop practical insights and proven solutions that can be scaled in schools and districts throughout Texas based on our evidence and data analysis across the transition from middle school (8-9) through high school (9-12) and into postsecondary programs (four-year, two- year, and technical programs)

A Systematic Approach to Investments Is Required

Focus

Pick your battles and know how to win them

Investment Model

Frame strategic decisions around a formulaic approach and scope a value-add role

Path to Scale

Structure reforms to begin with the end in mind by outlining a path to high leverage

A Multi-Stage Approach

Scale

One to a few instances

Multiple, varied instances

School systems across the state

Transitions

Feedback and Redesigns

Stage One Stage Two Stage Three

What Do We Believe Will Move the Needle?

Impact Areas Definition

Performance Management

Education Leadership

Teacher Effectiveness

Learning Systems

• Teachers hired and developed to deliver strong student performance outcomes

• Campus- and district-level leaders hired and developed to focus on instruction and lead operations efficiently

• Rules and flexibility within the administrative and learning environment that support the personalization of learning at the student level

• Infrastructure and processes for identifying, tracking, and analyzing data critical to decision-making aligned with standards

Texas High School Project

Next Generation Investments in Promising Practices

John Fitzpatrick

THSP Executive Director

February 23, 2010