Overview: 
Panola Early College High School is designed to help at-risk students become successful college students.  The program allows for one-on-one instruction with students to guide them through their BS degree, with an emphasis on achieving their goal within two years of high school graduation.

Mission:
To educate, challenge and develop strong leaders for tomorrow’s world, today. Our mission here at Panola Charter School is to significantly reduce, if not almost   completely eliminate, illiteracy and academic failure while increasing student self-worth and the number of graduates who qualify to attend college by providing the community with a student-friendly educational environment that promotes personalized, character-based, computer-integrated curriculum lead by a team of caring staff members dedicated to the success of each student under their influence.

Vision: 
Panola ECHS students will be given the tools and guidance that leads to either a two year associates degree, or up to 60 college hours that can be transferred toward a four-year degree, and/or lead to certification in a high skill occupation within 4-5 years of the time they enter 9^th grade.  We believe in providing multiple pathways to adult success as well as accelerating the traditional four-year BS track.

Challenge or history faced: 

• Two indicators of “missed opportunities at the post-secondary level”:
  • The very high rate of students who dropped out of post-secondary systems.  The graduation rate of area community colleges has decreased over the last decade due to the large percentage of underserved students choosing to go to two-year colleges (80%), and their lack of preparation for college.
  • The inordinate amount of time to earn a degree.
  • In addition, good math and science skills and knowledge are the keys to access and success in college and in the critical applied technologies needed to keep high skilled jobs in the community and area-wide.  Less than 20% of underserved students in East Texas are graduating with either a two or four-year degree.

Implementation: 

Panola Charter School was founded in 2000, and has grown steadily over the last eight years.  The main charter school campus is in Carthage, with the Early College High School on the campus of Texas State Technical College in Marshall.  Within the last three years, we have applied for and received an Early College High School grant in conjunction with TSTC in Marshall.  During that time, we have worked with TSTC to develop a program to help students become successful at the post-secondary level. 

Results: 

• Students have completed over 1475 college hours with an overall GPA of 3.29. 
• In the third year of the program, the majority of our graduates will exceed 60 college hours. 
• Students averaged a 27% increase in overall ACCUPLACER scores from August 2007 to May 2008.  
• Retention rate of students at TECHS is 92% and graduation rate is 100%. 
• Competed in Model UN competition, placing 2^nd in Power Point. 
• Competed in two Robotic competitions, earning a 1^st and 2^nd place. 
• Provides community service in a wide range of areas. 
  • Our students have served in disaster relief efforts, animal shelters, empty pantry collections, and empty stocking funds for the needy.

Lessons learned: 

• ELA: In writing, a change from writing to pass TAKS, to writing to be successful in college.  Learning to write critical essays and complete college assignments is crucial for student success.  Many of the Early College English Teachers at TSTC report a difference in a very short time in the student’s writings. 
• Math/Science: In math and science, students are better off in college algebra, chemistry, and physics courses with tutorial help from high school staff, college instructors and college-age tutors than in high school courses with just high school tutors and study groups.  Math skills must be accelerated and students shown how and why prior misconceived ideas are wrong and interfering with new learning.  Changing the mindset from just getting the right answer to also understanding the concept is being emphasized by all tutors, study groups and peer mentors.

Partners: 

• Texas State Technical College,
• Region 7 ESC and the statewide ECHS network
  • Region 7 provides staff development
  • ECHS network provides training, resources, policies, and opportunities to visit and share with other ECHS.
• TSTC’s industry partners and contacts provide input into the curriculum offerings and in work-based learning opportunities.  The close relationship that TSTC has with the working community gives students the advantage of gaining internships and other paid and unpaid learning opportunities. 
• Certifications and sequences of courses are up to date and provide a just-in-time workforce.