Region One to Implement High School Improvement Plan, Preparing All Rio Grande Valley Students for College and Work

EDINBURG, Texas -- The Region One Education Service Center (ESC) today announced a new $12.1 million investment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to implement an innovative high school redesign plan to improve academic performance, raise graduation rates, and cultivate a college-going culture in the area’s high schools.

Region One, in partnership with the Institute for Research and Reform in Education (IRRE) and the Institute of School Excellence (ISE), will expand its efforts to serve more than 30,000 high-need students in 18 Rio Grande Valley schools by 2011 and throughout the region’s 37 school districts in the years to come.

While Region One is committed to cultivating a college-going culture in its high schools, too many students are struggling, either not graduating or not graduating college-ready. Only 56 percent of Region One’s class of 2005 graduated on-time, and the state reports that the dropout rate for the high schools participating in the transformation program is nearly twice the state rate.

Located along the Texas-Mexico border, Region One serves primarily low-income students (85 percent) and has the highest proportion of English Language Learners (40 percent) and migrant students (44 percent) in Texas. The new investment is central to the Region One plan to help all students achieve at higher levels, particularly Hispanic students, who make up 97 percent of the student population. 

“Providing a high-quality education for all students in Region One is our top priority,” said Jack Damron, Region One ESC executive director. “Through this new investment, we will be able to improve student performance, increase high school completion rates, and send more Region One students to college prepared to succeed. We are grateful to our partners for their shared commitment to this work and the impact it will have on our young people and their futures.”  

The High School Redesign Project will rely on the successful First Things First school improvement model developed by IRRE and the School Excellence Model designed by the ISE to help foster a college-going culture through smaller learning communities, higher standards, family advocacy programs, and staff support. Throughout the region, the ESC will seek to strengthen school leadership and support professional development to emphasize the “new 3Rs”—academic Rigor, Relevant coursework, and stronger Relationships between students and adults—and ensure that all students graduate prepared for college and work.

This new investment builds on a $671,000 foundation grant to Region One in January 2006 which helped Region One educators create a high school redesign framework. It will allow the region to initiate its transformation effort at seven high schools in 2007 and then expand to 18 over the next two years. Ultimately, the ESC will develop the expertise to support redesign efforts at other area schools and districts long after the life of the grant.

“This community has demonstrated an impressive commitment to providing the challenging coursework and the personalized support needed to prepare all students for college and work,” said Steve Seleznow, program director for education at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “By creating its own plan, Region One can meet its unique challenges and serve as a potential model for other schools and districts working to meet the needs of its student population.”

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is focused on improving the nation’s low high school graduation rates and expanding educational opportunities for all high school students. To date, the foundation has invested more than $1 billion to support the creation of more than 1,800 high-quality high schools in 42 states and the District of Columbia. More than $70 million has been invested in Texas schools and districts. 

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Region One Education Service Center serves over 352,000 students and educators in seven counties in south Texas including Cameron, Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, Starr, Webb, Willacy and Zapata counties. Region One works to assist school districts in improving student performance, assist districts to operate more efficiently and economically, and implement initiatives assigned by the legislature or the Commissioner of Education.