Early College High School Research Articles

Case Study of a New Engineering Early College High School: Advancing Educational Opportunities for Underrepresented Students in an Urban Area

In response to the pervasive problem of making college more accessible to at-risk and underrepresented populations, the early college high school (ECHS) model has gained popularity. However, limited research exists on engineering-focused ECHSs (EECHS). Given the current demand for diverse and highly qualified engineers in the workforce, further research on EECHSs that potentially support the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) pipeline is warranted. We examined the perceptions of six teachers, 10 ninth-grade students, and one principal at a newly formed EECHS. Our qualitative analyses revealed numerous successes and few challenges related to the school’s culture, curriculum, and instructional practices. General findings that might apply to all ECHS programming included the school’s small size, the benefits of developing caring and supportive relationships, and a common focus on preparing students for future academic and career success. We discuss key implications of these findings within the context of replicating an EECHS program or similar school structure.

Early College High School Principals: Preparing Historically Underrepresented Students for College Success

Early college high schools, which allow underrepresented students to earn up to an associate’s degree during 9th through 12th grades, have been lauded for their potential to increase college access and opportunity. Yet little is known about the role of the principal. Using data drawn from 10 administrators in the borderlands of West Texas, this qualitative study uses an instructional leadership framework to explore how early college principals support students’ college preparation at the intersection of secondary and postsecondary education.

Educational Resilience at Risk? The Challenges of Attending an Early College High School

This study sought to explain student success at an Early College High School. Guided by previous research on Early College High Schools as well as by the construct of educational resiliency, 28 students were interviewed in focus groups. Through the analysis, we uncovered the key role that educational resilience played in their success as the students leveraged their own individual and social assets to adapt to the challenges they faced. The school setting itself also served to cultivate their resilience. We also heard from students about their ongoing struggles with sleep and anxiety. The study has implications for research on Early College High Schools and similar school settings, as well as for research on educational resilience.

Early College High Schools at Scale: Using Administrative Data to Assess the Impacts of an Educational Intervention on Voting and Crime

Early college high schools (ECHS) are small schools of choice which provide students with the opportunity to earn, at no financial cost to them, two years of transferable college credit or an associate's degree while simultaneously satisfying high school graduation requirements. This promising intervention is aimed at smoothing the transition from high school to college for under-represented minorities and students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. There are about 80 ECHS in North Carolina, although the model is implemented in many other states as well.
 While much is known from prior research about the impacts of the intervention on educational attainment, nothing is known about longer term outcomes such as employment, wages, criminal involvement, and voting behavior. The present study will briefly describe the data collection process, research methods, and preliminary findings on the effects of the intervention on voting and criminal conviction in North Carolina. We will also present results on whether impacts on long term civic outcomes are mediated by educational attainment. Quasi-experimental impacts have been validated against impacts generated from a randomized controlled trial of the same intervention in a subset of the sites during the same time period.
 The team assembled personally-identified population level statewide administrative data on all NC high school students (including ECHS) and linked it to records housed at community colleges, universities, the Department of Public Safety (incarceration), and Board of Elections (voting). Together this effort comprises one of the more comprehensive administrative data collection efforts linking student level K-12, postsecondary, and longer-term outcomes.

Leadership styles predict career readiness in early college high‐school students

AbstractThis study examined leadership style as a predictor of career readiness among a sample of (N = 281) students from two early college high schools from the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas. Participants included 165 females and 116 males ranging from 14 to 19 years of age and 96.8% identified as Hispanic. Participants provided demographic information and reported their own leadership style using the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ 5x) as well as their career readiness using the Employability Skills Inventory (ESI). Additionally, pre‐existing district Texas Success Initiative (TSI) data was used to identify college readiness in Reading, Writing, and Math. The results indicated that college readiness, dual enrollment, year in school and gender predicted some of the dimensions of career readiness, but leadership style emerged as a significant predictor of all eight dimensions of career readiness.

Falcon Biomanufacturing: Teaching the core concepts of biochemistry and molecular biology through the model of a biotechnology company

To meet the challenges of the 21st century, students need a higher level of competency in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics than at any point in our history. This goes beyond terminology and abstract theory. They need to understand how different concepts relate, and most importantly how they form the basis for the technology economy. To address this need, we have developed a novel teaching platform built around the idea of a “mini‐biotech company”. The students in the biotechnology class in Bertie Early College High School, in Windsor, North Carolina learn Essential and Common Core Standards of biology and chemistry by going through the steps of making recombinant protein to be used in university research and related to the industries in their community. The year‐long program starts with a one‐week summer camp, biotech boot camp, held at NC State University. During this week, the students are introduced to concepts and techniques related to initial process development, process scale‐up, production, and validation. In addition, the students are taken to different area biotech companies where they meet working scientists and learn about their career paths. Then over the course of the next school year, the students work in their high school laboratory to develop their own process for optimal protein expression based on their equipment and available time during a school day. At the end of the school year, each student presents a poster at a biotechnology symposium held at their school, and the students that put forth the most work and leadership are selected to attend a national level science conference. Over the course of this program, students gain a deeper understanding of fundamental biochemical concepts while gaining practical, relevant work experience leading to an understanding of biotechnology beyond that of most undergraduate students.Support or Funding InformationBurroughs Wellcome Fund SSEPThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Blind Date Poetry: Introducing Poetry to Today’s High School Students

This study examined an early college high school English teacher's instructional method of introducing poetry through Blind Date Poetry. Blind Date Poetry was created by the teacher to introduce her students to 25 poems in a 90-min class session. The study was to find if the poetry introduction engaged and motivated students to learn poetry. The collected data showed that students preferred autonomy, quick decision-making, and personal interest when being introduced to poetry. Also, the instructional method increased students’ engagement and motivation to learn about the poems they had chosen.

Bounding, An Accessible Method for Estimating Principal Causal Effects, Examined and Explained

ABSTRACTEstimating treatment effects for subgroups defined by posttreatment behavior (i.e., estimating causal effects in a principal stratification framework) can be technically challenging and heavily reliant on strong assumptions. We investigate an alternative path: using bounds to identify ranges of possible effects that are consistent with the data. This simple approach relies on fewer assumptions and yet can result in policy-relevant findings. As we show, even moderately predictive covariates can be used to substantially tighten bounds in a straightforward manner. Via simulation, we demonstrate which types of covariates are maximally beneficial. We conclude with an analysis of a multisite experimental study of Early College High Schools. When examining the program's impact on students completing the ninth grade “on-track” for college, we find little impact for ECHS students who would otherwise attend a high-quality high school, but substantial effects for those who would not. This suggests a potential benefit in expanding these programs in areas primarily served by lower quality schools.

“… you don’t come to this school... to show off your hoodies”: Latinas, Community Cultural Wealth, and an Early College High School

Early College High Schools (ECHS), recent school reforms in the U.S., were designed as social justice, equity-oriented interventions to increase educational opportunity for students from traditionally marginalized and underserved groups. The purpose of this qualitative inquiry was to understand and examine the perceptions and experiences of eight Latina students, regarding their motivation and persistence in an ECHS. Yosso’s Community Cultural Wealth (CCW) framed the analyses. Findings demonstrated the students relied on several forms of CCW to support their motivation and persistence. However, observations and prolonged engagement in the ECHS setting revealed deficit perspectives held by some teachers and incidents of racist mocking occurring between some teachers and students. Resultantly, the students’ CCW was undermined as well as the school’s social justice imperative. Recommendations relevant to the early college context are provided.

Early Colleges at Scale: Impacts on Secondary and Postsecondary Outcomes

We examine the impacts of early college high schools, small schools of choice located on college campuses. These schools provide a no-cost opportunity for students to earn college credit—or a 2-year degree—while in high school. Using rich administrative data on multiple cohorts of students and quasiexperimental methods informed by the within-study comparison literature, we estimate program impacts of enrolling in a North Carolina early college in ninth grade on a variety of secondary and postsecondary outcomes. We include all such schools in the state, and we report generally promising findings. Early colleges increase important high school outcomes, boost associate’s degree completion, and raise 4-year-college enrollment at less selective public institutions. We also show the differences of these impacts across race, home-district performance, and host site, helping us better understand the implementation and effects of this promising intervention in one state that has brought this school reform model to...

“This is my family outside of my family”: Care-based relating in a model early college high school

Early college (EC) is a novel educational model in the US that combines high school and college in an effort to increase underrepresented students’ access to higher education by providing engaging, hands-on instruction in a supportive learning environment. For this phenomenological inquiry, we sought to understand the role of care-based relating in a model early college by examining how relationships are manifested and experienced at this school. Through 30-45 minute interviews, eleven participants (three sophomores, three seniors, and five teachers) described EC teachers’ high level of commitment to students’ academic success through: (a) responsive instruction in classroom and group contexts; (b) additional learning support for individual students; and (c) varied experiences from traditional school contexts. EC teachers found these efforts fostered student commitment to learning. Additionally, teachers and students noted the extraordinary commitment of EC teachers to the physical, social, and emotional wellbeing of learners demonstrated through: (a) family-like relationships; (b) promoting social and emotional wellbeing through timely advice and intervention; (c) joining students through tragic and intense personal and out-of-school realities; and (d) forming longitudinal connections with students and their families. However, this commitment resulted in teachers taking on significant burden when there was a lack of structural supports available for all learners. Findings hold implications for educational policy and school structuring that can promote educational equity and success through meaningful relationships, responsive practices, wrap-around services for students with out-of-school challenges, and teacher-support structures to ensure the longitudinal development and wellness of teachers, preventing burnout and attrition.

Preparing Students for College: Lessons Learned From the Early College

This article utilizes mixed methods—a lottery-based experimental design supplemented by qualitative data—to examine college readiness within an innovative high school setting: early college high schools. Early colleges are small schools that merge the high school and college experiences and are targeted at students underrepresented in college. Results show that early college students are more likely to have successfully completed the courses they need for entrance into college; early college students also graduated from high school at a higher rate. Interview and survey data show that early college students are generally considered similarly prepared to more traditional postsecondary students. The interview data also provide detailed descriptions of the kinds of strategies the schools use to support college readiness. The article concludes with lessons learned for secondary school principals.

Early college high school achievement outcomes in North Carolina: End of grade and ACT performance

High school reform in the United States has a long and unremarkable history with regard to improving the outcomes of traditionally underrepresented youth. Beginning in 2002, North Carolina began to implement the Early College High School model. In 2012 the state of North Carolina adopted a new accountability program that includes the ACT as a measure of college readiness in addition to the long-standing end-of-course assessments in English, algebra, and biology. Several reports and research studies have been conducted to evaluate the performance outcomes of early college students to traditionally prepared high school students and found in general early college students do as well if not better than their peers. This study examines four years of performance outcomes using the North Carolina End of Grade Tests and one year of ACT results for all students in the testing program. Of particular interest was examining the achievement gaps between Hispanic, Black, and White students over time and then assessing EOC and ACT performance as an indicator of college readiness. The findings indicate that (a) early college high school students tend to perform better on EOC and ACT assessments, (b) that the benefits of attending an early college can in many cases mitigate the effects of race, gender, and poverty, and (c) early college students may be more college ready than traditionally prepared peers.

Building as We Go: Secondary Schools, Community Colleges, and Universities in Partnership – The Early College High School Initiative

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of key informants about the processes of institutional change and collaboration involved in the development of three early college high schools (ECHS)s over a 4-year period. The 15 study participants were members of early college high school councils and included high school principals, counselors, community college administrators, and school district administrators. Participants were located at two early college high schools located on community college campuses, and one was located on a school district site. This mixed methods study used a survey and structured interviews, both based loosely on case studies from Not so easy going: The policy environments of small urban schools and schools-within-schools (Raywid & Schmerler, 2003) and factors identified by the Wilder Collaboration Inventory (Mattessich & Monsey, 1992) as critical to successful collaboration. The findings of the study showed that the ECHS partnership, according to the majority of its members, exhibited (a) indicators of institutional change in policy and attitude toward collaboration; and (b) the success factors of history of collaboration, favorable political climate, appropriate cross section of members, collaboration seen in self interest, sharing a stake in process and outcome, shared decision making, concrete attainable goals and objectives, and shared vision. Success factors not showing a majority response were adequate resources, mutual respect, open and frequent communication, clear roles and policy guidelines, and sufficient funds.

Academic Success and College Readiness: A Study of Predominantly Hispanic Students in South Texas High Schools

<p><em>The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a significant difference between Early College High School students, ECHS students within a traditional high school, and traditional public high school students in south Texas as pertaining to college readiness. End of Course tests scores for English classes in grades nine and ten were tested. The population comprised of students from a 98% Hispanic and low socio-economic education region. In the state of Texas, EOC scores determine college readiness. Results revealed the ECHS stand-alone model had a significant difference in English EOC scores among the three models. </em></p>

Educational Experiences That Matter to Seniors Graduating From an Urban Early College High School

Preparing underrepresented students in urban settings for college and career is the focus of this study: Nine students graduating from a diverse, urban early college high school describe their experiences. Using narrative inquiry methods, conversations from nine students are examined to uncover crucial points of convergence: all nine engaged in self-awareness, developed relationships with people, looked toward the future, embraced school as a place of learning, and experienced school as “family.” Powerful experiences unique to each student are also highlighted. From students themselves, researchers and educators can learn what it takes to graduate high school ready for college and career.

Longitudinal Findings From the Early College High School Initiative Impact Study

This study is a randomized controlled trial that assessed the impact of Early College High Schools on students’ high school graduation, college enrollment, and college degree attainment, as well as students’ high school experiences using extant data and survey data. The study included 10 Early Colleges that enrolled students in Grades 9 to 12 in 2005 through 2011 and used a lottery for admissions, and 2,458 students who participated in those admission lotteries. The study time frame covered Grade 9 through 2 years post high school for all students and 4 years post high school for the oldest student cohort. It found that Early Colleges had positive impacts on college enrollment and college completion as well as students’ high school experiences.

Smoothing the Transition to Postsecondary Education: The Impact of the Early College Model

ABSTRACTDeveloped in response to concerns that too few students were enrolling and succeeding in postsecondary education, early college high schools are small schools that blur the line between high school and college. This article presents results from a longitudinal experimental study comparing outcomes for students accepted to an early college through a lottery process with outcomes for students who were not accepted through the lottery and enrolled in high school elsewhere. Results show that treatment students attained significantly more college credits while in high school, and graduated from high school, enrolled in postsecondary education, and received postsecondary credentials at higher rates. Results for subgroups are included.

Addressing college access and success gaps in traditionally underrepresented populations: The North Carolina early college high school model


 
 
 Most states now allow qualifying high school students to take college courses free, or at a reduced rate, while still enrolled in secondary education, saving students and their families tens of thousands of dollars. Increased access, however, has not necessarily led to increased student success in terms of academic achievement and completion rates, especially among students from traditionally underrepresented populations. Racial and ethnic minorities, first-generation students, and students from low socio-economic status (SES) families continue to have lower than average college completion rates. The North Carolina early college model, in particular, has demonstrated effectiveness in improving high school graduation rates and college readiness among traditionally underrepresented populations.
 
 

Retention and Satisfaction of Novice Teachers: Lessons from a School Reform Model

In many countries, novice teachers, or those with fewer than four years of experience, have a higher turnover rate than do more experienced teachers. Using teacher employment data, we examine whether schools in an American whole-school reform model are better able to retain novice teachers. Using survey data, we investigate whether novice teachers in a particular school reform model are more satisfied with school leadership than their peers in traditional high schools. In this reform model, early college high schools, high schools are located on college campuses and students have the opportunity to earn an associate’s degree or two years of credit in the state university system. This model emphasizes a shared mission and shared leadership. We find that early colleges had a higher turnover rate than their neighbor schools, and a higher percentage of early college teachers were novices. However, these novice teachers were not more likely to leave than novice teachers in traditional schools were. Early college novice teachers received more personalized support and were more satisfied with school leadership than their peers in traditional high schools. Under certain conditions, schools can have higher retention rates for novice teachers.