Heart of Texas P-20 Regional Council
Becky Musil – Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives,
TSTC
Kim Cody – Coordinator of School & Community
Partnerships, Connally ISD
David Young – Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum
& Instruction, Midway ISD
Fred Hills – Dean, Arts and Sciences, MCC
John Turpin – Superintendent, Mexia ISD
Presentation Overview
 Overview of P-16 Councils
 Quick look at the Six
 Mission
 College and Career Readiness
 Current Initiatives
 Everyone is a College Counselor
P-16 Councils
 Defined in statute
 Bring together P-12, Higher Ed,
Business, and Community
 To align education vertically and
horizontally
 With common goals to strategically
coordinate activities
 To create higher outcomes for all
students
Legislative Definition
 Section 61.0762 of Education Code authorizes
programs to meet state’s higher education plan
Closing the Gaps by 2015.
 630,000 students in postsecondary by 2015
 Significant push to improve college and
career readiness, participation, and success
 Foster college-going culture across the
state
 House Bill 2808 Section 61.0762: P-16
Councils legislation
Legislative Purpose:
 Advance regional efforts to target, design and
implement systemic actions to establish collegegoing habits and traditions in middle and high
schools, particularly to increase Hispanic
college participation and completion rates;
improve parental outreach; and increase
awareness of College and Career Readiness
Standards;
Legislative Purpose continued:
 Ensure the work will be carefully managed and
monitored;
 Engage systems, institutions, civic and business
leaders and build region-wide ownership; and
 Communicate with its various partners in clear
and regular ways so as to remain focused on
the work.
Benefits
 Expose students to career options & role models
 Better prepared workforce
 Healthier school, business & community culture
 Help solve local problems
 Improve standing within the community
 Opportunity for University & P-12 students &
faculty to learn across diverse populations
How are Councils Funded?
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
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No more state funding
Private grants
Membership dues
Local support from Economic/Workforce Development
Boards
 Local Chambers of Commerce
 The Heart of Texas Regional P-20 Council currently
operates entirely as a volunteer organization with
operating expenses provided by Region 12 ESC and
TSTC.
Heart of Texas Region
 Six Counties
 Bosque
 Hill
 Falls
 Limestone
 Freestone
 McLennan
Median Family Income
Source: U.S. Census Bureau – 2009 Estimates
Families Below Poverty Line
Source: U.S. Census Bureau – 2009 Estimates
High School Degree
Source: U.S. Census Bureau – 2009 Estimates
Some College
Source: U.S. Census Bureau – 2009 Estimates
Associate Degree
Source: U.S. Census Bureau – 2009 Estimates
Bachelor Degree
Source: U.S. Census Bureau – 2009 Estimates
Graduate or Professional Degree
Source: U.S. Census Bureau – 2009 Estimates
2008-09 High School Graduates
Enrolled in Texas Higher Education
Source: U.S. Census Bureau – 2009 Estimates
Conclusions
• % of Families in Poverty is Well Above
State Average
– Over 20% of Families in Waco are in poverty
– The median family income among Waco
residents ($30,093) is nearly $20,000 less
than the State average
• Low educational attainment relative to the
State
Learn More. Earn More!
Education Equals Economics
Education is the key to economic success
• Graduate high school
earn $1M in
your lifetime
• Graduate college
earn extra $1M in
your lifetime.
• Speak two languages
more
opportunity + better jobs
Purpose
The purpose of the Heart of Texas P-20
Council is to assist all levels of education
to continually improve programs and
services, create and sustain opportunities
for all students to achieve post-secondary
education goals, and support the economic
vitality of the region.
Vision
The vision of the Heart of Texas P-20
Council is a sustainable future in which all
children reach their true potential
as happy, healthy, productive and
self-sufficient citizens.
Mission
The mission of the Heart of Texas P-20
Council is to assist with the collaboration
of education, business, and community to
maximize the utilization of resources,
programs, and services for all students
while encouraging a culture of
life-long learning.
Beliefs
It is our belief that …
 Achieving college and career readiness allows
students to reach their fullest potential
 Continual improvement of teaching and learning
processes is a key ingredient to success
 The economic vitality of the region is
interdependent, requiring the collaboration of
education, business, and the community
Goals
 Build a sustainable P-20 Council organization
 Inventory and publish a complete listing of educational
opportunities in the region
 Develop partnership agreements among the educational
entities, businesses and community organizations
 Promote promising and best practices models.
 Conduct regional information gathering and
dissemination meetings
 Seek multiple funding sources for the support of education
What is “COLLEGE” ready?
 Prepared for any postsecondary education or
training experience, including
Two- and four-year institutions leading to a
postsecondary credential
 A high school graduate has the English and
mathematics knowledge and skills necessary to
qualify for and succeed in entry-level, creditbearing college courses without the need for
remedial coursework.
What is “CAREER” ready?
A career provides a family-sustaining wage and
pathways to advancement and requires
postsecondary training or education.
 A high school graduate has the English, and
mathematics knowledge and skills needed to
qualify for and succeed in the postsecondary job
training and/or education necessary for their
chosen career (i.e. technical/vocational program,
community college, apprenticeship or significant
on-the-job training).
A College and Career Ready Student is….
•
•
•
•
Strong, competitive academic foundation
Global and technical competence
Career specific skills and goals
Professional and scholastic networking and
social skills
• Critical and independent thinking abilities
• Self-discipline and intrinsic motivation
Is ready for COLLEGE and ready for CAREER the same
thing?
• Yes, there is a convergence in the expectations of
employers and colleges in terms of the knowledge and
skills high school grads need to be successful after high
school.
• ALL high school graduates need to be prepared for
some postsecondary education and/or training if they are
to have options and opportunities in the job market.
Job Outlook
• 8 of 10 of future jobs will require
postsecondary education or training
– 45% “middle skill” occupations requiring some
postsecondary education
– 33% “high skill” occupations requiring at least
a Bachelor’s degree
– 22% “low skill” occupations for those with a
high school diploma or less
Next Steps
Being "college and career ready"
ultimately means that students are
prepared for their next steps, that all
doors remain open to them as they
continue to pursue their education and
their careers.
Current Heart of Texas P-20 Initiatives
Monthly Executive Steering Team Meetings
(Representation from Mexia ISD, ESC Region 12, Connally
ISD, CORD, Waco ISD, Midway ISD, La Vega ISD, TSTC
Waco, Waco Business League, Tarleton State University,
Texas Tech, McLennan Community College
Quarterly General Council Meetings (open to attendees
from all six counties)
College & Career Readiness Professional Development
A series of three, full days of educator professional
development designed to help make the shift from standards
proficiency to preparedness for the next level of learning
(October 20, 2011; January 25, 2012; June 6, 2012)
We are all college counselors……
The expectations that teachers, parents,
and other adults have of students are
integral to the decisions they will make
about college. Too often, students are
labeled early in their educational
careers as “college bound” or “noncollege bound.”