ECHS Designation

Early College High Schools (ECHS) are open-enrollment high schools that allow students least likely to attend college an opportunity to receive both a high school diploma and either an associate degree or at least 60 credit hours toward a baccalaureate degree. Early College High Schools:

• Enroll Historically underserved students, targeting at-risk and economically disadvantaged 
• Provide dual credit at no cost to students
• Offer rigorous instruction and accelerated courses
• Provide academic and social support services to help students succeed
• Provide students with highly personalized attention
• Increase college readiness
• Partner with Texas institutions of higher education (IHEs) to reduce barriers to college access

The ECHS Blueprint Provides foundational principles and standards for innovative partnerships with colleges and universities. The ECHS Blueprint contains six benchmarks outlining the design elements that each ECHS campus must implement before serving students. Additionally, outcome-based measures in Access, Attainment, and Achievement provide guidance for ECHS program implementation and continuous improvement efforts. 

• Related Content
  • 2020-21 ECHS Blueprint (PDF)
  • 2020-21 ECHS FAQ 

• ECHS PEIMS Indicator Code (PDF)

• How to Read Your OBM Report (PDF)

• What happens to an ECHS if they do not meet one or all OBM? Posted August 11, 2020 ECHS OBM are being phased in through the 2021-2022 academic year. OBM will be used to determine campus designation status for the 2022-2023 academic year, and thereafter. An ECHS which does not meet state standards on OBM during the phase-in period will maintain their Designated status. TEA has developed a comprehensive approach to technical assistance to enable ECHS campuses to achieve success in the three Access, Attainment, and Achievement domains upon completion of the phase-in period. Once the phase-in period has ended, an ECHS which does not meet state standards in all three domains (Access, Attainment, and Achievement) will be provided targeted technical assistance to implement strategies which promote fidelity to the ECHS Blueprint and support cycles of continuous improvement. An ECHS not able to meet state standards through state assistance will lose their designation status and be transitioned out of the network.

• • The Early College High School (ECHS) Blueprint provides foundational principles and standards for innovative partnerships with colleges and universities. All Early College High Schools are required to meet all the design elements for each benchmark annually. All Early College High Schools are required to meet Outcomes-Based Measures (OBMs) on data indicators related to access, attainment, and achievement. TEA provides technical assistance to promote implementation of the ECHS model with fidelity.
  • Designated ECHS must reapply for designation every academic year. Campuses can only apply for designation renewal if they held designation status in the current academic year.

School Performance and Performance Objectives

• Degree Completion

Accountability Information

East ECHS Accountability Information (click on link for accountability info)