INNOVATION SCHOOL APPLICATION West Early College 2017 1 Dear Superintendent Boasberg, DPS Board Members and Colorado State Board Members, We are pleased to present you with this Innovation plan for West Early College. The following highlights are the key components of this plan and why we believe this plan will continue the strong journey and movement West Early College is currently embarking on. Because of the extended time and flexibility in calendar, scheduling, teacher contract and professional development at West Early College, all students have been able to follow a rigorous education plan beginning in middle school while given opportunities to develop a growth mindset to follow pathways towards high school and college requirements. We believe this innovation status and plan has been instrumental in our movement from red (accredited on probation) to yellow (accredited on watch) in two years. Without innovation, we would not have been able to provide teacher with the extended professional development needed to create the culture of learning and excellence. Our new innovation plan at West Early College will allow flexibility in 1) calendar 2) scheduling 3) teacher contract day and 4) professional development to allow ALL students the opportunity to enroll in college courses as early as their 9th grade year and earn a minimum of 12 college credit hours and up to 60 college credit hours towards an associate degree transferrable to a four year college. Students will also have an option to earn an industry certificate in a technology of medical pathway as well as an opportunity to participate in our career residency HUB program and earn paid internship and apprenticeships in the 11th and 12th grade. All students will also have options for a fifth or sixth year enrollment. By bringing college and career readiness awareness at the middle school and the real life experiences at the high school campus, we believe this is to be the best and most comprehensive approach to strategically improving teaching and learning at West Early College. We believe this innovation plan provides the early success that builds the confidence our students need in order to continue taking the risks that lead to academic achievement and completion of college. If we continue to have high expectations our students will be supported through this innovation plan, offering them a stimulating and challenging environment. Ana M. Mendoza Executive Principal, West Early College Kurtis Quig, Middle School Principal, West Early College Mia Martinez Lopez, Assistant Principal, West Early College 2 Provide your school’s name. West Early College Provide the name of the school leader under innovation status. If different, provide the name of the main contact for this application. Ana M. Mendoza, Executive Principal Kurtis Quig, Middle School Principal Mia Martinez Lopez Assistant Principal Date application submitted: December 2017 Provide an overview of the innovation school plan development process. Early research began in the fall of 2015, the West Early College Instructional Learning Team (ILT) traveled to Hidalgo Texas to tour a successful Early College High School model. Many innovative ideas were brought back to Denver and it was a collective decision to change our focus from the unsuccessful generation model, to an Early College Model. The decision of the Instructional Leadership Team (ILT) was to investigate an aligned model for the school that allowed for continual implementation of a focused approach to an already established concurrent enrollment program. The approach would include succinct medical and technical pathways and a partnership with Denver Public School’s Career Connect program, Community College of Denver (CCD), University of Colorado at Denver (UCD), Metropolitan State University (MSU), CEC, Emily Griffith Technical College, Denver Health, Galvanize, and other community business partnerships. These pathways would align with concurrent enrollment options and degree plans with CCD or other colleges. Students would apply for an identified pathway, or plan of study, during their freshman year. The pathway would be selected based on the student’s interest and outlined post- secondary goal. As part of the student personalized education plan, the 4-Year plan of study would be created with the College and Career Readiness Coordinator and Academic Counselors. If a student was undecided about his/her pathway at the time of selection, a general college prep pathway can be selected. In the fall of 2017 Administration applied for official Early College Status and was approved by the State of Colorado. Beginning officially in the spring of 2018, West Early College is designated as an official early college model. Students will now be able to simultaneously earn a high school diploma and associate degree free of charge to their families. Through a partnership with Community College of Denver and the University of Colorado at Denver this early college model will allow students to take free college level courses while in high school, including a fully funded fifth year and create an intentional pathway that leads to a college degree. Additionally students will also have the opportunity to explore career opportunities and earn and industry certificate in an area that interest them. West Early College was also accepted as DPS CareerConnect residency HUB. As a CareerConnect Hub School students at West Early College and other students who apply and are accepted will have the opportunity in the 11th and 12th grade to participate in a three year paid program, spending part of their week in a traditional classroom and the other part in a business or training center. The career Residency links the theory taught in the classroom with application in business in and industry. All students completing the Career Residency program will earn a high school diploma and college credit, free of cost. Students will have the opportunity to continue their higher education or immediately gain access to higher-paying career. Detail who participated on the renewal design team. This team was chosen because of their expertise and is all part of the renewal process. 3 ● Ana M. Mendoza, Executive Principal ● Kurtis Quig, Middle School Principal ● Mia Martinez Lopez, Assistant Principal ● Zach McDowell, Pathways Director ● Vaughn Jost, Instructional Leadership Team ● Cynthia Sherlock, Instructional Leadership Team ● Madeline Puryear, Instructional Leadership Team ● EJ Rodriguez, Instructional Dean ● Amy Thomton, Instructional Dean ● Jennifer Wiggs, Instructional Dean ● Yolanda Garduno, College Readiness Coordinator ● Federico Rangel, Denver Scholarship Foundation ● Ana Arteaga, Parent Liaison Describe the vision and mission statement of the school and how innovation status will help the school achieve its mission. Mission West Early College’s Mission is to lead ALL students through a rigorous education plan, beginning in middle school while giving them an opportunity to develop a growth mindset to follow pathways towards high school and college requirements. Each student, regardless of background or skill level, will be provided with the academic and social emotional supports to develop the skills necessary to achieve mastery and demonstrate success in high school, college, and in their chosen career. Vision All students at WEC will follow a rigorous education plan, beginning in middle school while given an opportunity to develop a growth mindset to follow pathways towards high school and college requirements. Each student at West Early College (WEC), regardless of background or skill level will have the opportunity to enroll in college courses as early as their 9th grade year and earn up to 60 credit hours towards an associate degree transferable to a four year college or an industry certificate in the technology or medical pathways or a pathway of their choice. How innovation status will help the school achieve its mission: The innovation status will allow West Early College the freedom to provide the extended day, creative schedule and additional professional development needed for a complex integration of an Early College Model, DPS CareerConnect and CareerResidency programs. Students will need to take extended college level courses to prepare them for rigorous programing and will need a creative schedule. In order to do so, we will need to stand apart from the district’s professional development calendar. Assessments and curriculum may also vary as they will be taking college level course assessments and will also need a different calendar for assessments. By having innovative status, West Early College can achieve its mission of preparing all students through a rigorous education plan beginning at middle school. Identify the school’s target student population and community to be served. West Early College serves grades 6 -12 with approximately 700 students. The Free and Reduced Lunch (FRL) population is averaged at 95% for both the middle school and high school. We were comprised of the following demographic groups in 2017: 85% Hispanic, 7% Black, 4% White, >1% Asian and 2% Native American and >1.5% of two or more races. The English Language Learner (ELL) population is at 38% for the High School and 34% in the Middle School. The school is set in an urban setting in West Denver near downtown in a historic school building and location. Most students that attend West Early College do not 4 live within walking distance and require bus transportation mostly through public transit. Articulate clear guiding purposes and priorities, which are meaningful, measurable and attainable: Goals for Students and Families ● Prepare all students (grades 6-12) for success beyond high school 100% of all middle school students will be exposed to pathway opportunities. ● 100% of all middle school students will be exposed to pathway opportunities. ● 100% of all middle school students on grade level in English (ELA) and Math. ● Increase high school graduation rates to 100% ● Engage families and community by 50% every year. ● Utilize targeted intervention for Special Education students and English Language Learners to show growth on the Colorado Growth Model by ten points.