Early College Tutoring Austin
The Early College High School Initiative was established in 2002 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, in partnership with the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Ford Foundation, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. It became a popular approach to education relatively quickly and Early Colleges cropped up rapidly across the nation. The Early College High School Initiative (ECHSI) allows high school students to earn a college associate degree (or up to two years of college credit) in concert with their high school diploma.
Early Colleges were developed to enroll historically underserved students, targeting at-risk and economically disadvantaged students, but they are not limited to enrolling only these students; the student population can be more diverse than that because students are often chosen via lottery. That said, all early college students receive the same rigorous instruction and access to accelerated high school classes and college courses. Early college high school students take a mixture of high school classes and college classes; some of the college classes count as credit for both. They participate in high school clubs and events, but spend most of their academic day on their college campus where they receive personalized academic and social support services to help them succeed and increase college readiness.
Early College High Schools promote college access and success; student outcomes have been positive since the ECHSI started. They offer many benefits for high school students. Of course, they allow high school students to earn college credits via both online and on-campus classes; these classes are offered at a reduced price per tuition credit hour. But there are other advantages as well. Early College High Schools also help to build familiarity with college professors and their requirements and expectations. They also help students gain a better understanding of time management requirements and responsibilities that come with college life; students learn to live a more balanced life. Early College High Schools provide high school students the ability to experience what college is like before they start college in earnest.
For more information regarding Early College High Schools, check out these online resources:
- Texas Education Agency, “Early College High School (ECHS)”
https://tea.texas.gov/academics/college-career-and-military-prep/early-college-high-school-echs
- GreatSchools, “What is an early college high school?”
https://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/early-college-high-school/
- Advancing Evidence. Improving Lives. (AIR), “Evaluating the Impact of Early College High Schools”
https://www.air.org/project/evaluating-impact-early-college-high-schools
Tots ‘N Tutors is an Austin, Texas-based professional tutoring company that offers support to students in pre-K through high school and college. Tots ‘N Tutors offers structured in-person and virtual tutoring sessions tailored specifically to address the individual needs of each student. Our caring and competent learning guides meet with students individually or in small groups to help with comprehension of information in all subject areas, as well as other foundational skills like notetaking and time management, to help them reach their learning goals. Contact Tots ‘N Tutors today to discuss how we can help your student build the knowledge and skills they need.