Governor Susana Martinez joined leaders from the Daniels Fund on Wednesday to announce the first three communities to receive funding for new early college high schools.
Early college high schools are unique partnerships between school districts, business leaders and higher education institutions that allow high school students to earn work-ready associate’s degrees while working towards their high school diploma. The three applications to receive awards in this first round are: Las Cruces, Roswell and Mesa Vista.
Expanding the early college high school model was announced as a critical education reform by Governor Martinez during her state-of-the-state speech earlier this year. “This partnership shows the opportunities we can create when leaders who put students first work together. These new early college high schools will play a critical role in not only graduating more students, but preparing them for the pivotal next step beyond high school,” says Governor Martinez.
Governor Martinez secured $500,000 in state funds to develop early college high schools. The state funding has been matched by The Daniels Fund, with an additional investment of $525,000 to develop early college high schools throughout the state. “We’re honored and grateful that the Daniels Fund would join us in this innovative program for New Mexico’s students,” said Governor Susana Martinez.
The first three recipients received the highest scores from the fourteen applications received for the early college high school initiative. Applicants not awarded in the first round can still receive funds after taking additional steps to strengthen partnerships between the school district, business community and higher education institutions.
The early college high school program is modeled after the Arrowhead Park Early College High School in Las Cruces, which is in its third year of operation without a single student dropout. The school is the result of The Bridge of Southern New Mexico, a partnership with Las Cruces Public Schools and Doña Ana County business leaders. The high school serves more than 330 students from around the district who are earning college credit.
“When we find an opportunity to replicate best practices that are delivering results for students, we should seize it,” said Public Education Department Secretary Hanna Skandera. “Through this partnership, not only will students have a chance to earn their degree, but they will also get a head start in understanding what it takes be successful in college or their chosen career. We have seen amazing results in Las Cruces and we expect to see them all over New Mexico.”
The new early college high schools awarded in the first round are:
University High School – Roswell – awarded $100,000 to enable students earn credits in science and technology. The new school will also offer associates degrees and will initially serve 50 students a year. Partners include: Eastern New Mexico University, Lovelace Regional Hospital, Leprino Foods, Aersale, Eastern NM Medical Center, KOBR and the Roswell Daily Record newspaper.
Mesa Vista High School – Mesa Vista – awarded over $137,000 to enable students to study Business Services, Engineering, Construction, Manufacturing, Agriculture, Health and Bio Science, Hospitality and Tourism. This new school will offer associates degrees and credit towards a bachelor’s degrees and will serve all 133 high school students in the district. Partners include: UNM Taos, Northern NM College Rio Arriba County, Kit Caron Electric Cooperative, US Forest Service, Ojo Caliente Resort and Mineral Springs Resort and Spa, Las Clinicas Del Norte.
San Andres Early College High School – Las Cruces – awarded $120,000 to enable students to study healthcare, manufacturing and construction. Currently operating as an alternative high school, the new curriculum will offer associates degrees to at least 80 students already enrolled. Partners include: Doña Ana Community College, The BRIDGE of Southern New Mexico, Las Cruces Machine and the Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce.
“We’ve been very impressed with the community wide approach to improving educational outcomes in New Mexico,” said Linda Childears, President & CEO of the Daniels Fund. “We’re proud to join this partnership with the single goal of improving achievement for the students of New Mexico.”
The Daniels Fund operates the Daniels Fund Grants Program and the Daniels Fund Scholarship Program in NM, CO, Utah and Wyoming. Bill Daniels was born an entrepreneur, widely regarded as one of the greatest business visionaries of the 20th Century. He helped to pioneer an industry that is an important part of our daily lives. In the final years of his life, Bill Daniels laid the plans for his foundation – the Daniels Fund – which follows his direction for “making life better …one individual at a time”.
Read coverage from the Las Cruces Bulletin
Read coverage from the Las Cruces Sun-News
