The Early College Expansion Partnership (ECEP), formed in 2012 by JFF and Educate Texas and supported by a federal Investing in Innovation (i3) grant, set an ambitious goal of bringing early college designs to an additional 30,000 students in traditional middle and high schools in Denver and South Texas. The three participating school districts—all of which serve large numbers of low-income students, first-generation college goers, and English learners—took on the challenge of redesigning the high school experience to give all learners the opportunity to earn college credit in high school.
This type of transformation requires leaders from both sides of the secondary-postsecondary divide who are willing to disrupt “business as usual” and rethink instructional practices, policies, and support systems. This forum will explore lessons learned by the ECEP sites and their intermediary partners that are particularly relevant under ESSA, as federal, state, and local leaders seek to demonstrate students’ college readiness through indicators such as dual enrollment and AP course completion and improve outcomes in the transition zone between high school and postsecondary education.
Panelists will include:
- Daniel P. King, Superintendent, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (TX)
- Esperanza Zendejas, Superintendent, Brownsville Independent School District (TX)
- Shirley Reed, President, South Texas College (TX)
- Denver Public Schools (CO), speaker to be confirmed
- Julie Edmunds, Program Director, SERVE Center at University of North Carolina Greensboro
- Chris Coxon, Managing Director, Programs, Educate Texas
- Joel Vargas, Vice President, School and Learning Designs, JFF
- Sarah Hooker, Senior Program Manager, JFF
