1. “Hidalgo Early College School District” Fall Educational Leaders Conference ESC – Region 19 El Paso, Texas – November 18, 2008 College Attainment For All Students through Quality Programs, Educators, Partnerships, and Community Support

2. 2 Hidalgo ISD Student Demographics:Student Demographics: –99.7% Hispanic, 0.2% White, and 0.1% Asian/Pacific Islander –90.2% Economically Disadvantaged –54.9% Limited English Proficient Hidalgo ISD is located in SouthHidalgo ISD is located in South Texas and has a southern boundary that parallels the Rio Grande River.

3. 3 Recent Recognitions 2007-2008: US News and World Report analyzed more than 18,000 high schools and rated Hidalgo ECHS #11 of the top 100 high schools in the Nation and #1 in Texas in terms of College Readiness for all students.2007-2008: US News and World Report analyzed more than 18,000 high schools and rated Hidalgo ECHS #11 of the top 100 high schools in the Nation and #1 in Texas in terms of College Readiness for all students. 2006-2007: Hidalgo ISD earned the distinction as the #1 School District in Texas through the HEB Excellence in Education Award.2006-2007: Hidalgo ISD earned the distinction as the #1 School District in Texas through the HEB Excellence in Education Award.

4. 4 Our Motivation: Our Commitment: College Attainment for All

5. 5 Elementary and Middle School Hidalgo Early College School District FocusHidalgo Early College School District Focus University and Career Pathway SupportUniversity and Career Pathway Support Ongoing PK-12 collaboration effortsOngoing PK-12 collaboration efforts Adopt a CollegeAdopt a College Program Program

6. 6 Hidalgo Early College High School According to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Hidalgo ECHS is the only open enrollment high school in the nation to serve All students through an Early College High School program.According to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Hidalgo ECHS is the only open enrollment high school in the nation to serve All students through an Early College High School program.

7. 7 Hidalgo Early College High School Hidalgo ECHS Organization:Hidalgo ECHS Organization: –ECHS is organized into two Academies: Academy of Health, Science, and TechnologyAcademy of Health, Science, and Technology Academy of Human ServicesAcademy of Human Services Hidalgo ECHS Course Matrix:Hidalgo ECHS Course Matrix: –Freshman and Sophomore year is comprised of traditional, AP, and college courses where students can earn up to 21 college hours. –Junior and Senior year is comprised of college coursework where every student will have the opportunity to earn up to 60 college hours upon graduation.

8. 8 Hidalgo Early College School District District Level:District Level: –Assistant Superintendent for College Readiness Enhance college readiness and workforce readiness efforts from PK-20.Enhance college readiness and workforce readiness efforts from PK-20. Align teaching/learning support, staff development, instructional programs/resources to support college-ready classrooms.Align teaching/learning support, staff development, instructional programs/resources to support college-ready classrooms. Link and leverage partnerships and funding sources to support “College Attainment for All” efforts.Link and leverage partnerships and funding sources to support “College Attainment for All” efforts. Campus Level:Campus Level: –Early College Readiness Facilitator Centralized at the middle school levelCentralized at the middle school level Coordinates college-ready activities with elementary, middle school, and high school administrators, counselors, teachers, and students.Coordinates college-ready activities with elementary, middle school, and high school administrators, counselors, teachers, and students.

9. 9 Quality Programs

10. 10 Quality Support Programs Career Pathways Program: Provide Every student with counseling based on selected career pathway!Career Pathways Program: Provide Every student with counseling based on selected career pathway! Hidalgo Parental Academies: Providing cohorts of parents with a Language Academy, Workforce Academy, and College Readiness Academy.Hidalgo Parental Academies: Providing cohorts of parents with a Language Academy, Workforce Academy, and College Readiness Academy. Summer Educator Internships: Provide cohorts of teachers with summer internships based on core area.Summer Educator Internships: Provide cohorts of teachers with summer internships based on core area. Early Childhood Education: All day Pre-Kinder for Every 3 & 4 year old!Early Childhood Education: All day Pre-Kinder for Every 3 & 4 year old! Dual Language Program: Bi-literacy for Every Graduate!Dual Language Program: Bi-literacy for Every Graduate!

11. 11 Career Pathways Program Entry Level/ Apprenticeship Certification Programs Two-Year Degree Four-Year Degree

12. 12 Career Pathways Program Counseling Services:Counseling Services: –Assign students to counselors based on selected career pathway and not grade level or alpha designations. –Develop an environment where students are encouraged to explore their interests, skills, and career goals. –Enhance counseling services at Elem, MS, and HS levels to develop early college awareness and of future opportunities Hidalgo ECHS Career Pathways:Hidalgo ECHS Career Pathways: –Business and Marketing Careers –Health Science Technology Careers –Human Development, Management, and Service Careers –Industrial and Engineering Technology Careers –Personal and Protective Services Careers

13. 13 Parental Academies Language Academy I Language Academy II GED/Occupational Skills Academy Certification or Degree THEA Academy HISD Parental Involvement Program: Adult Literacy, Life Skills, Career Pathways, Technology Skills, Money Management, Accountability

14. 14 Parental Academy Program Language AcademyLanguage Academy –LA I: Pre-Beginning and Beginning Literacy –LA II: Intermediate and Advanced Literacy Workforce AcademyWorkforce Academy –GED Training –Occupational Skills Training THEA College Entrance Exam AcademyTHEA College Entrance Exam Academy Certification, Associate, Four-Year DegreeCertification, Associate, Four-Year Degree

15. 15 Summer Educator Internships Summer Educator InternshipSummer Educator Internship –Partnership of Business and Education –Mentoring Opportunities with Business Sector –Business Work Experience to Enhance Experience to Enhance Relevance and Rigor Relevance and Rigor in the Classroom in the Classroom

16. 16 Early Childhood Education Full Day PreKindergarten for Every 3 and 4 year old.Full Day PreKindergarten for Every 3 and 4 year old. –Pre-K 3 –Pre-K 4 Support Early Skills DevelopmentSupport Early Skills Development –Emergent Literacy Development –Social/Emotional Development –Language/Cognitive Development

17. 17 Dual Language Program Focus on Biliteracy for all studentsFocus on Biliteracy for all students District-Wide ImplementationDistrict-Wide Implementation Elementary LevelElementary Level –Pre-K 4 through fifth grade Middle School Level CohortMiddle School Level Cohort –Sixth through seventh grade in World History and Texas History

18. 18 Quality Educators

19. 19 Quality Educators CultureCulture –“Total Team Effort” –“No Excuses Philosophy” –“Beyond Exemplary: One Student at a Time” Support –Indoctrination Process –Professional Growth Opportunities –Leadership for Learning

20. 20 Q uality Partnerships

21. 21 Partners in Education Institutions of Higher EdInstitutions of Higher Ed –University of Texas – Pan American –South Texas College –Texas State Technical College –University of Texas –Austin OrganizationsOrganizations –Education Service Center - Region One –Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation –Texas High School Project –Communities Foundation of Texas –Jobs For the Future

22. 22 Partners in Education Community and BusinessCommunity and Business –Parents and City of Hidalgo –McAllen Economic Development Corporation –Workforce Solutions –Tech Prep of the Rio Grande Valley BenefitsBenefits –Authentic Collaboration –Networking Opportunities –Technical Assistance –Availability of Facilities/Resources –Relevant Curriculum –Teacher Enhancement

23. 23 Quality Community Support: School Board Members Making a Difference Quality Community Support: School Board Members Making a Difference

24. 24 School Board Honors 2007-2008: Hidalgo ISD School Board was honored at the National School Board Association Annual Conference with the American School Board Journal Magna Awards Honorable Mention.2007-2008: Hidalgo ISD School Board was honored at the National School Board Association Annual Conference with the American School Board Journal Magna Awards Honorable Mention. 2006-2007: Hidalgo ISD School Board was one of only five school boards in Texas to receive the TASA/TASB Honor Board Award.2006-2007: Hidalgo ISD School Board was one of only five school boards in Texas to receive the TASA/TASB Honor Board Award.

25. 25 School Board Support Implementation of two Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Early College High School Grants to serve every high school student.Implementation of two Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Early College High School Grants to serve every high school student. Instructional Facilities:Instructional Facilities: –Renovation of entire Hidalgo Early College High School to reflect a college campus environment. –New Instructional Facility –New Library Research Center

26. 26 School Board Support Master’s degree professional development incentive ($500 per first six hours and $100 per addtl. 3 hours)Master’s degree professional development incentive ($500 per first six hours and $100 per addtl. 3 hours) College course teaching stipend ($500 per each college course taught)College course teaching stipend ($500 per each college course taught) Performance Pay System:Performance Pay System: –College Readiness –Instructional Technology –Accountability –Leadership

27. 27 School Board’s Keys to Success Focus on the StudentsFocus on the Students Demand Excellence in All AreasDemand Excellence in All Areas Provide Resources and SupportProvide Resources and Support Hold staff accountable for resultsHold staff accountable for results Focus on SolutionsFocus on Solutions Let Superintendent and Staff Do Their JobsLet Superintendent and Staff Do Their Jobs

28. 28 What do we hope to gain? Connect every student to post-secondary education prior to graduation from HS.Connect every student to post-secondary education prior to graduation from HS. Strengthen partnerships where every level of the community is involved in the educational process.Strengthen partnerships where every level of the community is involved in the educational process. Attain higher levels of student academic performance through high quality instruction.Attain higher levels of student academic performance through high quality instruction. Ensure economic prosperity and a better way of life for our students.Ensure economic prosperity and a better way of life for our students.