The El Paso College Readiness Initiative: On a Wing and a Prayer Cheryl Baker Kathy Stein Dorothy Ward The University of Texas at El Paso October 2006

El Paso, Texas

El Paso Demographics Population: 578, 622 African American: 3.18% African American: 3.18% Latino: 76.62% Latino: 76.62% White: 18.35% White: 18.35% Individuals below poverty level: 28.8% Individuals with a bachelor’s degree: 21.8% Source: U.S. Census 2000

UTEP and EPCC Demographics UTEP EPCC Total Population 18,918 23,021 African American 2.4% 2.5% Latino 71.7%84.7% White 12.3% 9.5% Sources: UTEP Fact Book and EPCC Web Site

Texas Success Initiative In Texas, college readiness is determined using one of the state designated exams. Students must meet minimum standards in reading, writing, and mathematics. Institutions can use the tests as placement instruments; placement scores can be set higher than the TSI pass scores. In El Paso, at both UTEP and EPCC, we use ACCUPLACER, a computer adaptive test.

Developmental Education Demographics UTEP 66% of entering students require at least one developmental education course EPCC 98% of entering students require at least one developmental education course

El Paso College Readiness Consortium In November 2005, the EPCR Consortium was created: UTEP’s Provost (and other UTEP personnel) EPCC’s Vice-President for Curriculum (and other EPCC personnel) Area ISD Superintendents (or their representatives) Director – El Paso Collaborative for Academic Excellence Director – Region XIX Purpose: To work collaboratively to reduce the number of high school graduates needing developmental education starting in Spring SISD and YISD agreed to participate in the Spring 2006 pilot.

El Paso School Districts (22 high schools) El Paso ISD (EPISD) 10 high schools Socorro ISD (SISD) 5 high schools Ysleta ISD (YISD) 7 high schools

Area School Districts (6 additional high schools) Anthony ISD Canutillo ISD Clint ISD Fabens ISD San Elizario ISD Tornillo ISD

College Readiness Initiative Components OrientationTestingInterventionsAssessment

Orientation To introduce the students to the ACCUPLACER To encourage them to take the exam seriously To share the implications of poor scores To provide resources for them to access before taking the test

Testing UTEP tested YISD students in their high schools in April and May EPCC tested SISD students in their high schools in February, March, and May. Most districts are now working to become ACCUPLACER testing sites.

Additional Districts As the spring semester continued, Anthony ISD, Canutillo ISD, Fabens ISD, and San Elizario ISD asked if their students could be tested. They were given the orientation materials and their students were tested.

Initial ACCUPLACER Testers  2,022--Ysleta Independent School District  1,156--Socorro Independent School District  77--Anthony Independent School District  186--Canutillo Independent School District  49--Fabens Independent School District  53--San Elizario Independent School District   3,543--Total ISD Students Taking Initial ACCUPLACER Test

Interventions Interventions occurred on the SISD campuses and at one of the YISD campuses. They varied greatly from campus to campus: voluntary vs. mandatory during school/after school during school/after school the duration of the intervention the duration of the intervention the instructional method the instructional method

Assessment  We will be assessing the effectiveness of the following: –The ACCUPLACER Orientation Program –Testing and retesting –Enrollment increases at UTEP and/or EPCC –Student performance/success at UTEP and/or EPCC –Persistence at UTEP and/or EPCC

Assessment UTEP and EPCC are in the process of hiring an individual to conduct the assessment. This individual will hold a joint appointment at both institutions.

Challenges Communication Committee members were able to communicate effectively, but getting the information to the individual campuses and teachers was much more difficult. Costs EPCC and UTEP picked up the initial test costs for all 3,000+ students. This year, most of the campuses are using HB1 funds to pay for the tests. EPCC and UTEP picked up the initial test costs for all 3,000+ students. This year, most of the campuses are using HB1 funds to pay for the tests.

Challenges Lack of Familiarity The P-12 faculty and staff did not know higher ed policies, issues, and jargon. Higher ed faculty and staff did not know P- 12 policies, issues, and jargon. Higher ed faculty and staff did not know P- 12 policies, issues, and jargon. Speed of Implementation We learned in Nov. that we had to be in the ISDs by January. That made documentation more difficult.

Challenges FERPA considerations Data Transfer of scores from the ISDs to UTEP and EPCC

Benefits For P-12 faculty and staff – Much greater understanding of what challenges their graduates will face in college The creation of lines of communication between the institutions of higher education and the ISDs.

Benefits For higher education – Perceived by the districts as trying to help. Perceived by the districts as being allies and not snobs in the ivory tower.

Benefits For students As all students had to complete a joint UTEP/EPCC application before taking the test, more students started to consider attending college Students had a much more realistic idea of how ready they were for college coursework. They had time while still in high school to work on their academic skills before graduation.

CRI Grows Summer 2006 UTEP offered Enhanced New Student Orientation: 6 hours of math review for all students with a developmental math placement EPCC offered a summer bridge program to students who tested developmental in all three areas.

CRI Grows Fall 2006 UTEP and EPCC administrators have jointly visited with all the superintendents in El Paso County inviting them to join the College Readiness Initiative. Goal: To test all juniors and provide interventions and retests to all seniors.

Wish us luck!