Educate Texas Achieve - Winter/Spring 2019 Newsletter

Winter 2019

ACHIEVE STRENGTHENING THE PUBLIC AND HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM FOR ALL TEXAS STUDENTS

A NOTE from OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR With 2019 already well underway, I am excited about the plans we have moving forward, and my excitement is fueled by looking back on the achievements our team, partners and students made in 2018.

In 2018 we made great strides towards our 20x2020 Student Success Plan, which has the goal of positively impacting 20 percent of Texas students and teachers by 2020.

We are on track to reach that goal, and in 2019 we’ll begin strategic planning for the work that will lead us into 2025.

PROGRESS TOWARDS REACHING 20% IN OUR FOUR KEY IMPACT AREAS

92%

to 2020 Goal with College & Career Readiness 2018 student count of 275,000*

86%

to 2020 Goal with Effective Teaching 2018 teacher count of 64,000*

100%

to 2020 Goal with Higher Education 2018 student count of 320,000*

97%

2018 was also a big year for RGV FOCUS, a collective impact initiative of Educate Texas that seeks to improve educational outcomes in the Rio Grande Valley. RGV FOCUS just unveiled a new five-year plan, which will concentrate on five areas along the cradle-to-career pathway: early childhood through elementary school education, middle school education, secondary through postsecondary education, workforce experience and partnerships, and teaching excellence.

In January of 2019, Texas Education Grantmakers Advocacy Consortium (TEGAC) became an official initiative of Educate Texas. Joining forces to align our strategies and unique skills will enable us to more purposefully engage and activate a broader set of philanthropic voices to affect education policy at both the local and state level.

I’m thankful to our talented staff, partners, colleagues and donors for their collaboration and commitment to improving education in the state of Texas. Together, we are making a difference for our students and our state.

to 2020 Goal with Regional Collaboration 2018 student count of 1,500,00*

JOHN FITZPATRICK | Executive Director Educate Texas, an initiative of Communities Foundation of Texas

*Counts reflect 2018 numbers

NEW YEAR, NEW LEGISLATIVE SESSION With the 86th Legislative session underway in Austin, Educate Texas is working with policymakers to focus on three key areas: college and career readiness, effective teaching and higher education.

Our team will be working on the hill to: • Make it easier for students to transfer from community colleges to four-year universities without losing time, money and credits.

• Ensure that the 30,000 new teachers entering Texas classrooms each year are well trained and held to fair, rigorous standards, and spend more of their training time in classrooms with students than in theory-based learning.

• Improve college and career readiness by strengthening dual-credit options for high school students, and connecting them to employers, jobs and certification opportunities.

UPCOMING EVENTS National College Access Network Spring Training at CFT March 28

College and Career Readiness School Models Learning Tours Weeks of April 22 and 29

RGV FOCUS State of Education May

For more information on all Educate Texas events, please visit edtx.org/get-involved/events.

College and Career Readiness School Models Leadership Summit June 17-19

Texas Philanthropy Leadership Circle at CFT June 25-27

COLLEGE & CAREER READINESS

A DECADE of SUCCESS Harlingen CISD’s Early College High School Celebrates 10 Years in the Rio Grande Valley By blending high school and college coursework, Early College High Schools (ECHS) give students the opportunity to earn up to two years of college credit (60 hours), tuition-free, while earning a high school diploma. The ECHS model has increased college readiness across Texas, providing rigorous instruction and coursework as well as academic and social support. Over the years, Educate Texas has partnered with the Texas Education Agency and many school districts to implement ECHS programs, with inspiring results. In the 2018-2019 school year, there are 170 Designated ECHS serving more than 65,000 ECHS students.

In the heart of the Rio Grande Valley, Harlingen CISD’s (HCISD) Early College High School, currently celebrating its tenth anniversary, is an excellent example of ECHS success. Harlingen has a high poverty rate — 79.7% of students are economically disadvantaged — and the school was founded in order to help local students overcome financial barriers to college enrollment. To this end, Texas State Technical College, which is located across the street, partners with the high school. Students attend some classes at the college, enjoy lunch breaks in the student union, and participate in events designed to create a culture of attending college.

“Being able to complete the first two years of college in high school is an incredible benefit for families, and can change the trajectory for kids who may have not have otherwise had a chance,” said Veronica Kortan, Administrator for Organizational Development at HCISD, and Founding Principal for Harlingen ECHS. “As I look back and think of the many success stories our students have had, it fills my heart with joy.”

One former student, Josue Aldrete, began attending Harlingen ECHS the first year it opened. Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, Aldrete immigrated to Harlingen with his parents when he was three. His parents worked in custodial positions for the district, and wanted a better education for their son, so they encouraged him to enroll in ECHS. While attending classes, he developed an interest in medicine, and later graduated with a high school diploma as well as an associate

of science degree in biology. Aldrete went on to earn a master of arts in physician assistant studies (PA) degree from the UNT Health Science Center. Today, he is practicing as a PA in Brownsville, Texas.

“Looking back, I can say with confidence that I made the right decision,” says Aldrete. “Harlingen ECHS was a big part and a right step towards my education and career.”

On average, Harlingen ECHS students earn 40-44 college credit hours before graduating high school, and gain a higher level of preparedness for college coursework.

“We have learned a lot from the Early College model, including the power of small learning communities,” Kortan says. “Harlingen ECHS served as the model for the new career-focused academies we’ve created in our district, such as the Apprenticeship Academy, Media Art and Communications Academy, and Veterinary Sciences Academy.

These programs help students explore career paths and solidify postgraduation goals. They leave our district with a plan, ready to fulfill their academic aspirations.”

HCISD is proud to celebrate its 10-year anniversary — and Educate Texas is thrilled to see the ECHS model scale across the district.

For more information about ECHS, visit edtx.org.

“Being able to complete the first two years of college in high school is an incredible benefit for families, and can change the trajectory for kids who may have not otherwise had a chance.”

Veronica Kortan Administrator for Organizational Development, HCISD

2 | Educate Texas

Early College High Schools give students the opportunity to earn up to

2 60

years

hours

of college credit, tuition-free, while earning a high school diploma

EFFECTIVE TEACHING

TEACHING IDEAS that WORK with Best in Class Teachers are the #1 in-school factor that influences student achievement. That’s why Best in Class is committed to ensuring North Texas students get access to the very best teachers and leaders. Part of the Educate Texas portfolio and powered by The Commit Partnership and Communities Foundation of Texas, Best in Class is a coalition of over 50 partner organizations across the Dallas-Fort Worth region. The program focuses on how our region can better attract great talent, prepare educators for success, provide meaningful development and retain the most effective teachers. To support this work, Best in Class analyzes data; connects people, resources and best practices; and grows strategies that work. But most importantly, it takes action. Here are a few recent highlights from the program: ACING EXCELLENCE Best in Class seeks out best practices in schools and districts with high-performing students, and works to replicate those results across the state. One successful initiative that captured the attention of Best in Class leaders is Accelerating Campus Excellence (ACE), a school turnaround strategy that began in Dallas ISD. ACE works by identifying the district’s most effective teachers and placing them in schools that have the highest needs.

One Dallas ISD school, Blanton Elementary, is an excellent example of ACE’s impact. Ninety percent of the students who attend the school are economically disadvantaged — yet with the power of ACE, they recently outperformed Highland Park ISD’s McCullough Intermediate School, which is located in one of Dallas’s most affluent neighborhoods,

on State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) tests.

Math scores were the most notable, with 82% percent of Blanton fifth-graders receiving “meets grade level” scores. According to student achievement results since ACE’s inception, more than 10,000 students are no longer attending chronically failing schools in Dallas/ North Texas.

Because of Blanton’s success, Best in Class adopted the ACE program, and is now working to share its best practices with districts outside of Dallas. In 2018, Best in Class launched ACE at five campuses in Fort Worth, four in Richardson and two in Garland. Four more districts will join the program in 2019. ACE is also gaining interest outside of North Texas, helping students across the state access high-quality education.

A fun, supportive culture that provides recognition is critical to attracting and retaining the best teaching talent. On a beautiful Saturday in October, Best in Class held its tailgate launch celebration, Touchdown for Teachers, to welcome new-to-the-profession teachers in North Texas.

Underwritten by the College Football Playoff Foundation, teachers enjoyed tasty BBQ, free tickets to the SMU vs. Cincinnati football game, goodie bags and lots of recognition. First-year teachers identified by their districts as “Rising Stars” were honored on the field during halftime.

Teachers take the field during the SMU football game.

MEET “RISING STAR” TEACHER MELISA SIMON Melisa Simon is a fifth-grade science teacher at Dallas ISD Blanton Elementary. She was inspired to teach by her experience as a Dallas ISD student, where she “was given support and guidance by teachers who never gave up.”

Melisa exemplifies the success of Grow Your Own Teacher programs. She earned college credits in high school, allowing her to complete her bachelor’s degree and become a teacher at age 20. Her goal is to “motivate students into realizing the power of education.”

Melisa Simon is one of the youngest teachers for DISD.

Best in Class believes there is untapped talent in our local schools, and supports districts interested in nurturing those talents. In 2018, nine districts across North Texas focused on launching or developing Grow Your Own programs.

To learn more about Best in Class, visit edtx.org.

Winter 2019 Newsletter | 3

Photo Credit: Elliot Munoz

SCORING A TOUCHDOWN FOR TEACHERS

HIGHER EDUCATION

CHOOSING SUCCESS: A STUDENT’S STORY Capital IDEA’s Career My Way Program, a Bridge to College and Career Success Michelle Paul, Executive Director for Capital IDEA Houston, smiled at the text she received. It was Adam1, and his message was brief: “I’ve made a decision, and I’m in.”

Those seven words captured months of hard work, self-exploration and career planning. Adam belonged to two worlds: One was in Pearland with his mother, who wanted him to go to college. The other was in Houston’s Sunnyside, where he was reconnecting with his father, who had recently been released from prison. It was a place where his friends made fast money, took big risks and lived short lives. Adam had even witnessed the murder of one of his closest friends, who had been shot and killed right in front of him.

While Adam wasn’t sure he belonged in college, he was wary of the direction his life might take if he stayed in Sunnyside. At his mother’s urging, he joined Capital IDEA’s Career My Way program, which helps young people match their strengths to fulfilling careers. Reluctantly, he took a self-assessment and learned he had many more strengths than he had imagined.

In Career My Way, Adam found himself surrounded by a community of young people who wanted something better for their futures, and were willing to change their lives to get there — even if it meant letting go of old friends. Slowly, Adam began to consider his own future differently.

He engaged in the program, taking industry field trips, partnering with a mentor, and participating in self-discovery opportunities.

At the Career My Way graduation, Adam expressed gratitude to his mentors and friends in the program, and was voted “Most Inspirational” by his peers. However, he was still undecided about college. He did not want to move away from his family and friends, and worried about the expenses and challenges of earning a degree. Working in an entry-level job, he barely earned enough money to pay his bills, and going to college would mean working fewer hours. While he knew he would earn more in the long term with a degree, it would take time and sacrifices to get there. Torn between hope and what he saw as his grim reality, Adam was not sure what to do next — but for once, he knew he had options.

After the program, Adam continued to call and text Michelle for guidance and advice. Michelle continued to encourage him, meeting him for lunch and arranging visits to vocational training and Houston Community College programs. Over the same time, Adam was also rebuilding his relationship with his father. He loved and admired his dad very much, and found it difficult to see him struggling to support himself. Adam’s father was actively seeking work, but his history made things difficult — and with no degree and a gap in work experience, he had few prospects. Seeing what his father was experiencing was a powerful motivator for Adam, who was reminded that he had a choice in the direction his future might go.

When Adam texted Michelle with his decision, she felt proud of him — he had chosen college. She was touched that he had taken the time to share his decision with her. The text may have been short and to the point, but the few words marked a sea change in a young man’s life — and she couldn’t wait to see what he would accomplish next.

Adam is currently enrolled at Houston Community College, where he is pursuing a degree path leading to a career in audio production, while working part-time. The road he has chosen will be longer, but if completed, it will lead to a more stable future that matches his passion and capabilities with a fulfilling career pathway.

Supported by Educate Texas’s Bridge to College and Career Success (BCCS) initiative, Capital IDEA and Houston Community College’s partnership is one of four innovative approaches to address the needs of the Gulf Coast region’s opportunity youth and young adults.

For more information about BCCS, visit edtx.org/bccs.

1 The student’s name has been changed for privacy purposes.

Adam, through the guidance of the program, ultimately chose to go to college and pursue a career in audio production while working part-time.

4 | Educate Texas

COLLECTIVE IMPACT

MAKING the RIO GRANDE VALLEY a HUB for TALENT with Support from the Lumina Foundation RGV FOCUS, a collective impact initiative of Educate Texas and Communities Foundation of Texas, is doing great work in the Rio Grande Valley — and its efforts are getting noticed. In June 2018, Lumina Foundation, in partnership with Kresge Foundation, recognized the area as a Talent Hub, awarding RGV FOCUS $275,000 in grant funding, joining other long-standing partners such as Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Communities Foundation of Texas, Ford Foundation, Greater Texas Foundation and Meadows Foundation.

In 2018, seven communities were awarded this designation, joining the 17 communities designated in 2017. These communities across the nation met strict criteria for creating environments that attract, retain and cultivate talent, particularly among people of color, those from low-income households, and individuals who are the first in their families to attend college. Each Talent Hub community is actively working to eliminate deep disparities in educational outcomes among these populations.

“One reason the Rio Grande Valley earned this distinction is our long history of collaboration between school districts, community colleges, universities and the workforce to help young adults who did not complete their degree or credential to come back and finish,” said Katherine Diaz, Deputy Director at RGV FOCUS. “For many of these students, even though they really want to earn a degree, life gets in the way. We want to create pathways to help them succeed.”

RGV FOCUS’ work to re-engage these college “stopouts” is designed to reach students across the entire region — not just one particular school or college. This regional focus was another reason why the community — encompassing four counties and more than 425,000 students — was selected.

Sub-grants from the awarded funds will be given to three regional institutions, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Texas Southmost College and South Texas College. These sub-grant funds will be used for the development, implementation and refinement of support systems that help returning students complete their degree or credential.

“We have learned from students that many want to come back, but they don’t know what resources are available,” Diaz says.

To help spread the word about the work RGV FOCUS is doing, some grant funds will be used to support a comprehensive outreach plan that will work with the community, other non-profits and key platforms to help students access re-enrollment resources.

“Helping more students complete a degree or credential means that more families will have a more prosperous future,” Diaz says. “More prosperous families mean a more prosperous region. In the end, it’s all about our students — and what is good for students is good for the entire Valley.”

For more information about RGV FOCUS, visit edtx.org.

“For many of these students, even though they really want to earn a degree, life gets in the way. We want to help them succeed.”

Katherine Diaz Deputy Director, RGV FOCUS

Lumina Foundation, with Kresge Foundation, awarded the Rio Grande Valley

$275K in grant funding to support local education efforts

Winter 2019 Newsletter | 5

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NEWS AT EDUCATE TEXAS

STAFF ACCOLADES MINORITY BUSINESS LEADER AWARD WINNER

NEW BOOK & NEW COUNCIL MEMBER

George Tang, Managing Director, has been named a recipient of the 2019 Minority Business Leader Award by Dallas Business Journal.

Eugenio Longoria Sáenz, Deputy Director, RGV FOCUS, is a co-author of a book titled Hispanic Serving Colleges of Education: Exploring Identity, Practice, and Educator Preparation, and was also named to the National StriveTogether Member Advisory Council.

MENTORING FELLOWSHIP & AWARD

LEADERSHIP DALLAS

Priscilla Aquino Garza, Deputy Director, Policy, received a Graduate School Diversity Mentoring Fellowship and a Texas New Scholar Award for her UT Austin PhD.

Andy Scripps, Deputy Director, Strategy, was selected for the Leadership Dallas Class of 2019. Class members participate in a ten-month educational program where they receive indepth exposure to the critical issues facing the community.

LEGISLATIVE POLICY LEAD & SOCIAL MEDIA CHAIR Becky Calahan, Program Associate, TEGAC, was chosen as the Legislative Policy Lead for the Economic Development Committee of the Austin Young Chamber, and selected as Social Media Chair for the Board of Directors of the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network in Austin.

NEW TASB LEADER Kristin Kuhne, Senior Director, Insights and Analytics, and a trustee from Richardson ISD, was selected by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) for the Leadership Class of 2019.

2019 EDUCATE TEXAS COMMITTEE – CFT TRUSTEES ALFREDA NORMAN

Chair; Senior Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas

CONNIE O’NEILL Civic Leader

JOSE (PEPE) GUEVARA Vice Chair; Founding Mng. Director, Millstone Assets

HON. FLORENCE SHAPIRO Fmr. Chair, Fmr. State Senator; Partner, Shapiro Linn Strategic Consulting

MATRICE ELLIS-KIRK

Managing Director, RSR Partners