Texas ACE Helps Close the Achievement
Gap
Presenters:
Shanya Dean, Technical Assistance Manager
Jocelyn Kuhn, Technical Assistance Specialist
Edvance Research, Inc.
October 9, 2014
Agenda
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Terminology
Introduction to 21st CCLC/ Texas ACE
Best Practices from the Field
Resources
Questions?
Out-of-School Time Terminology
• Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELO)
– Umbrella term for learning beyond or outside the traditional school day
• Out-of-School Time (OST)
– Umbrella term for learning outside of school hours – can include before
school, afterschool, on weekends, holidays and during the summer
• After School
– Programs provided by the school or an external organization after the
traditional school day ends
• Extended Day/ Extended Learning Time (ELT)
– Longer school hours within the school day
21st Century Community Learning
Centers (21st CCLC) Program
• Authorized by Title IV, Part B, of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended
by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB)
• The only federal funding source dedicated
exclusively to OST programs
21st CCLC  Texas ACE
• Unique brand
designed to
emphasize a focus on
academics and
education
Eligibility
• Eligible Entities:
– Local Education Agencies
– Community Based Organizations
– Other Public or Private Entity
• Eligible School: Title I or campus serving 40% or
more economically disadvantaged students
• Eligible Students: PreK-12th grade
Texas ACE Quick Facts (2013-14)
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129 Grantes
168 School Districts
26 CBOs
3 ESCs
1 Institute of Higher Education
864 Centers
10,051 Teachers
208, 510 Students
Texas ACE Quick Facts (2014-15)
• 75 Grantees
• 467 Centers
• 57,092 Students (as of 10/6/14)
Goals and Objectives
• Goal: Ensure that all students are prepared for
college and the workforce
• Improve:
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Academic Performance
Attendance
Behavior
Promotion Rates
Graduation Rates
Program Operation
• 12-20 OST hours per week
• 35 weeks a year
• 4-6 weeks of summer programming
Grant Organization
Project Director
Family
Engagement
Specialist
Site Coordinator
Site Coordinator
Site Coordinator
Students Served by Texas ACE
2013 – 2014
Total Students
• 208,510
Total Regular Students
• 145,657
Total Non-Regular Students
• 62,853
Students Served by Ethnicity
Hispanic
62%
African American
19%
White
15%
American Indian/ Alaskan/ Native American
1%
Asian
1%
Two or more races
1%
Total Student Demographics
• Students Served by Gender
– 49% Female
– 51% Males
• Students Served by Cateogy
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LEP- 21%
Eco. Dis- 81%
Special Ed.- 8%
Migrant- 2%
Student Served by Grade Level
Evaluation Data
• When comparing high attendees (students who
attended 60-days+) and low attendees (students
who attended 30-59 days) in ACE programs,
participants in grade 4 to 12 attending 60 days of
more programming had:
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Higher levels of TAKS scores in Reading/ELA and Math
Fewer disciplinary incidents
Fewer school day absences
Enhanced likelihood of grade promotion (enhanced
likelihood of 23%-40%)
Source: AIR, “ Texas 21st Century Community Learning Centers Year 2 Evaluation Report”
ACE Activity Requirements
Academic
Assistance
Enrichment
Family &
Parental
Support
Services
College
and
Workforce
Readiness
• Four Component
Guide
• Based on identified
need
• Aligned with school
day curriculum
• Innovation is key!
Benefits of OST
• Flexibility
• Individualized academic support
• Enrichment opportunities not available during
school day
Examples of Best Practices
Supporting Student Achievement
• Tailored individualized attention
• Enrichment opportunities
• Examples:
– Region 13 STAAR Pilot Project
– NYOS STAAR Pilot Project
– Texans Can Certification Options
Region 13
• SPP Grantee
• Coordinated plan to match district improvement
plan
• Targeted Interventions
– Check and Connect
– TEKS Targeted Clinics
– STAAR Bootcamp
NYOS Charter School
• SPP Grantee
• Principal noticed strong need after STAAR results
• Interventions
– Cognitively Guided Instruction
– Career Exploration
Texans Can Academies
• Pleasant Grove Campus
• Collaboration with Cedar Valley Community
College to offer courses in ACE program
– Articulation agreement in place to give credit at CVCC
for all courses completed in high school
• Student complete requirements and state exams
to become state certified
Texans Can Academies
• Courses
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Electrocardiography
Phlebotomy
Dental Assistant
Pharmacy
Certified Nurse Aide
Automotive: Brake Systems, Electrical, and Suspension
Medical Front Office
Certified Logistics Assistant
Mentoring
• Connecting students with adults in a meaningful
and authentic way
• Examples:
– Birdville ISD
– Greenville ISD
Birdville ISD
• Center Richland Middle School
• Boys to Men program
– Life skill program
– African American men serve as mentors
– Activities include:
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Team-building
Self-esteem exercises
Citizenship
Leadership growth
Discussions on topics such as cultural and race issues, gang
involvement, healthy living and workforce development
Greenville ISD
• 7 campuses
• STEM Virtual Mentorship
– Cross-country connections
– VoiceThread
Family Engagement and Special
Services
• Using OST to offer new opportunities not
available during the regular school day
• Examples
– Lipan ISD
– Mercedes ISD
Lipan ISD
• Developmental playroom
– Targeted towards students with special needs
• Parenting classes offered in partnership with local
hospital
– Example: How to handle discipline children with
behavior issues
Mercedes ISD
• Roughly 60% of ACE participants were ELL/LEP
• Strategies
– Real-life Connections
– Student Choice of Language
– Community Connections
• Chief of Police
• School Board Members
• State Representatives
– Small group storytelling
Major Takeaways
• Community Engagement is Key
– Form an Advisory Council to leverage resources
• All supplementary programming should be based
on community need
• Design activities intentionally and based on
research-based strategies
• Monitor and evaluation for continuous
improvement
• Staff collaboration
Texas ACE Resources
• Texas ACE21.org
• MyTexasACE
– Blueprint
– Training Modules
– Evaluation Materials
• Logic Model
OST Resources
• Expanding Minds and Opportunities Compendium
– http://www.expandinglearning.org/expandingminds/t
able-contents
• Beyond the Bell® toolkit
– http://www.beyondthebell.org/about
Questions?
• Contact us
– Texas ACE Helpdesk:
TexasAce21@edvanceresearch.com
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING