Blueprint Artifacts

Benchmark 1: School Design

The Early College High School (ECHS) shall establish school structures and policies, regularly convene leadership teams and ensure adequate staff capacity for the successful implementation and sustainability of the ECHS program.

Required Activities and Products

All products shall be published on the ECHS’s website and be made available to TEA upon request.
All products shall be maintained in accordance with the local records retention policy.

1.6 Leadership Team Strategic Priorities

ECHS/IHE leadership meeting agendas
(English) & (Spanish) School board and board of regents’ presentations
Document(s) outlining the strategic priorities for the current academic year and/or long-term priorities of the ECHS partnership

1.7 Leadership Team Key Roles

Description of each member and role in leadership team and Leadership Team Roles & Responsibilities

1.8 ECHS Staff

1.9 ECHS Staff Professional Development

Benchmark 2: Partnerships

The Early College High School (ECHS) must have a current, signed memorandum of understanding (MOU) or interlocal agreement (ILA) with each Institution of Higher Education (IHE) that outlines key issues related to the planning, implementation, and sustainability of the ECHS program. Stakeholders shall review the MOU or ILA annually. The agreement shall include the components described in the design elements below.

Required Products and Activities

All products shall be published on the ECHS’s website and be made available to TEA upon request.
All products shall be maintained in accordance with the local records retention policy.

2.1 Goal of Higher Education Partnerships

MOU/ILA must be reviewed annually with the goal of improving programmatic supports and services for students and alignment to the Texas Statewide Dual Credit Goals.
Final, signed, and executed MOU/ILA or similar agreement.

Benchmark 3: Target Population

The Early College High School (ECHS) shall target and enroll historically underserved students. The campus must enable students who are at-risk of dropping out or those who wish to accelerate completion of high school to combine high school courses and college-level courses.

Enrollment decisions shall not be based on state assessment scores, discipline history, teacher recommendations, parent or student essays, minimum grade point average (GPA), or other criteria that create barriers for student enrollment.

Required Products & Activities

All products shall be published on the ECHS’s website and be made available to TEA upon request.
All products shall be maintained in accordance with the local records retention policy.

3.2 Documenting Enrollment Procedures

Written admission policy, and enrollment application
Written recruitment plan, including a timeline of recruitment and enrollment events, and recruitment materials for distribution at feeder middle schools and other appropriate locations in the community.

3.3 Stakeholder Engagement

Brochures and marketing in English, Spanish, and/or other relevant language(s). Values Brochure: English & Spanish
Written communication plan for targeting identified audiences (e.g., parents, community members, school boards, higher education personnel, etc.)

3.4 Lottery System

Written lottery procedures (district-level or campus-level)

Benchmark 4: Academic infrastructure

The Early College High School (ECHS) must provide a rigorous course of study that allows students the opportunity to earn a high school diploma and enable a student to combine high school courses and college-level courses with the goal of earning an associate degree or up to 60 semester credit hours toward a baccalaureate degree.

Required Products & Activities

All products shall be published on the ECHS’s website and be made available to TEA upon request.
All products shall be maintained in accordance with the local records retention policy.

4.3 Course Sequence

Crosswalk aligning high school and college courses, grades 9 through 12, which enables a student to earn an associate degree or up to 60 college credit hours toward a baccalaureate degree
Master schedules

4.7 College Readiness

Benchmark 5: Student Supports

The Early College High School (ECHS) must provide wrap-around strategies and services involving multiple stakeholders to strengthen academic, technical, and individual support for students to be successful in their ECHS program.

Required Products & Activities

All products shall be published on the ECHS’s website and be made available to TEA upon request.
All products shall be maintained in accordance with the local records retention policy.

5.1 Bridge Programs

Bridge program curriculum and schedule

5.2 Advising

Schedule of advising events

5.3 Tutoring Programs

Tutoring schedules

5.4 Classroom Supports

Advisory/study skills curriculum material

5.6 Enrichment Opportunities

Calendar of enrichment events and family outreach events

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