Echs Learning Community

Section 1: Problem, Purpose, or Topic

Background:

In 2002, in the state of Texas, 375,136 freshmen entered high school. In 2006, 240,285 or sixty-eight percent successfully completed high school the graduation requirements to receive a high school diploma. Of those graduates reported, only 55.2 % of them enrolled in college the following fall. Of those, only 48.3% of part-time college students returned their sophomore year and 73.1 of full time students returned (Mortenson). In the state of Texas of the students who began an associates program in 2004, only 18.8% actually successfully completed the program (NCES, 2009). Not only are the students in the state of Texas not completing high school, but the few college attendees enrolled are seemingly not prepared to be successful in college.

Issue:

"A formidable challenge has presented itself: how to ensure that schools succeed in not just graduating students who enter their doors but also in preparing those students to succeed in college" (Future, 2007). This challenge began the creation of early college high schools. Early College High Schools were designed to provide equitable education choices for those seemingly underrepresented in post secondary education institutions. Those underrepresented are defined as students considered at-risk, first generation college students, students who qualify for free/reduced lunch and English language learners. Funded by the Texas High School Project and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Cedar Hill Collegiate High School operates as an Early College High School and is in its second year of operation. Partnered with Cedar Valley College, a Dallas County Community College District campus, CHCHS students are eligible to complete up to 60 college credit hours or an Associate's of Arts degree along with their high school diploma. Due to the requirement constraints Collegiate High School students have very little choice in which courses they take towards high school graduation as well as towards the completion of their college course work. Students complete a very prescriptive graduation plan that affords them the opportunity to complete the requirements of both plans. During their freshman year students have no choice in the courses they will take; in the sophomore year, they are allowed to choose between Art or Music; the junior and senior year afford students the opportunity to choose two (2) courses per year from a list of pre-approved electives. There are approximately ten to twelve courses from which students are allowed to choose during their junior and senior years of high school.

This study is significant because it will prove if the Early College High School Initiative and the Texas High School Projects are improving the graduation rates and producing students who are competitive and possess twenty first century job skills.

The Early College High School Initiative began in 2002, with a goal of challenging and not remediating students who are first generation college attendees, of low income families, and students who are on track not to complete high school and be successful in life. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Jobs for the Future, and eleven other partner organizations have helped create approximately two hundred schools within the United States. These schools provide the students who attend them an opportunity to earn a high school diploma and an associate's degree or 60 hours towards a Bachelor's degree with no charge to the student. In a traditional high school, the opportunity for students to earn college credit through dual-enrollment courses and Advanced Placement courses has been exclusively for elite students who make excellent grades and have had little to no trouble in matriculating in high school. The majority of early college high schools give students who do not fall into this category a chance to receive college credit as well.

Most early college high schools are housed on college campuses. It is a collaboration of school district educators and post-secondary partners that includes community colleges, technical colleges, four- year colleges, and private and public universities. The involved parties work together to ensure students are provided with small, collaborative learning environments where success is achieved.

Jobs for the Future (2009) states:

In 2006, the first early college high schools granted diplomas. In 2007 more that 900 students graduated for eighteen early colleges. Eighty- five percent of them earned one year of college transferrable credit and sixty percent where accepted into four year colleges.

In the state of Texas, the Texas High School Project works with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation , The Texas Education Foundation (TEA), The Office of the Governor and other partners to provide funding to increase high school completion and college readiness.

The Texas Education Agency (2009) states:

There are 21 Early Colleges operating in Texas:

o 12 Early Colleges are all rated Academically Acceptable or higher: 4 are Exemplary, 3 are Recognized and 5 are Acceptable.

o These 12 schools are commended in all core subject areas.

o The remaining 9 Early Colleges are in their first year of operation and do not yet have campus ratings.

o Challenge Early College High School, which opened in 2004, was the first Early College in Texas.

o Houston ISD in partnership with Houston Community College has committed to opening 5 Early Colleges. In fall 2007, Houston passed a bond that will provide support for these schools.

o Hidalgo High School, an ECHS in Hidalgo ISD, ranked number 11 on the U.S. News and World Report's list of Top 100 Gold Medal Schools.

Question:

Is the Cedar Hill Collegiate High School increasing academic achievement for economically disadvantaged students utilizing the Early College High School program more effectively than the traditional high school in the Cedar Hill Independent School District?

Section 2: Methods for Gathering Data

Data Gathering

A quantitative survey design will be utilized to determine college readiness and student achievement.