TEA Gives Formal Approval for TISD Early College High School

TYLER — The Texas Education Agency has officially announced Tyler ISD as one of 44 newly approved Early College High School (ECHS) designations for the 2015-2016 school year. “I am extremely honored to have the opportunity to be a part of the first ECHS Program for Tyler ISD,” ECHS Director DelSenna Frazier said. “This program is going to positively impact the lives of so many students and families in Tyler. The ECHS model is the new high school experience.”

TISD’s ECHS is a partnership between the District and Tyler Junior College that provides students with a rigorous yet supportive program to compress the time it takes to complete a high school diploma and the first two years of college, according to a TISD news release. Officials say ECHS enables students to earn dual credit at no cost, offers rigorous instruction and accelerated courses, provides academic and social support services, increases college readiness, and reduces barriers to college access.

Although the formal designation was only recently granted, Tyler ISD has been preparing for the ECHS for several months. The ECHS has already accepted 116 first-time ninth grade students as the inaugural class. These 116 students will participate in the Summer Bridge Program July 27 through Aug. 7. Officials say that program will introduce students to the framework of the ECHS and establish standards and expectations. It will also include team-building activities and activities in conjunction with TJC. Students were selected through a competitive process that included an application, parent and student interviews, an essay, and a review of their school attendance records.

Officials say with the distinction, Tyler ISD will become one of 154 ECHS programs across Texas. According to Commissioner of Education Michael Williams, “Texas remains a national leader in the early college high schools and will continue to be as more districts and charters embrace this innovative concept.”