How Sustainable TSIA SUPPORT Fits into CCMR
Keep doors open for all students by helping them overcome a challenging step in the college enrollment process.
Proactive Strategies to Clear the TSIA Hurdle
The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) is a legislated program intended to help higher education institutions know if incoming students are ready for college coursework. The Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA) is one of the tools that institutions use to determine whether students are able to enroll into credit-bearing college courses right away or must complete remedial courses first.
A student’s performance on both the math and English Language Arts (ELA) sections of the assessment are used to make this determination.
Students who do not meet the TSIA standards can still attend college but must receive extra academic support as defined by their institution.
Meeting college readiness standards on the TSIA is a hurdle with implications for students and districts. Struggling with the TSIA can affect a student’s college ambitions and their ability to engage in dual credit programs; it can also decrease CCMR Outcomes Bonus funding. Many schools and districts approach TSIA support with band-aid actions such as last-minute test-prep boot camps rather than strategically identifying and closing gaps in preparation.
Explore TSIA Support Resources
Develop a Sustainable Approach
Driven by data and documented in detail, a smart approach to TSIA support generates consistently positive outcomes without straining resources. Critical components of a sustainable approach include:
Planning
Having a plan for the TSIA looks different for each school or district. Consider resources such as a student testing calendar, teacher and counselor training in sync with the calendar, and a system to relay information to staff and families.
Data
Leverage real-time and historical data to set goals or refine curriculum, instruction, and district leadership strategy.
Interventions
Identify students that would benefit the most from extra TSIA support.
Replicability
Replicate success through documented practices and strategies. The more consistent your approach to TSIA support, the less burden teachers will feel to create models and outcomes.
Build A Culture of Preparedness
Getting students ready for the TSIA is deeply aligned with the district’s core work of building a foundation of reading and math for all students. Embracing a culture of preparedness within a coalition creates space for efforts that are cumulative, collaborative, and consistent:
Cumulation
- Provide teacher training to enable students to read effectively by third grade.
- Ensure Algebra One course completion by ninth grade.
- Adopt frameworks for educators to provide timely, appropriate interventions in reading and math.
Collaboration
- Develop TSI-informed curriculum.
- Explore opportunities to form TSI committees that include elementary, middle, and high school teachers and administrators working together.
- Ensure counseling staff have adequate resources to discuss TSIA.
Consistency
- Follow a documented map of TSI readiness milestones broken down by grade for K-12.
- Emphasize skill mastery, not cramming for tests.
- Create chances to demonstrate mastery outside of test preparation.
CASE STUDY
The Impact of TSIA Support: [Name of Case Study Subject]
Sustainable Funding: How TSIA Support Feeds CCMR Success
TSIA preparation as part of a broader CCMR strategy can give districts opportunities to use their own budgets, philanthropic support, or both to create self-sustaining CCMR programs.
Greater TSIA support can unlock more CCMR Outcomes Bonuses, which allow districts to continually invest in readiness and student support initiatives, unlocking further bonuses in a feedback loop of success. With a strong TSIA and CCMR infrastructure in place, schools can supplement or replace external funding with their own budget confidently, knowing the cost can be replaced and lead to additional funding.
TSIA support feeds into CCMR Outcomes Bonuses in two ways:
- Higher test scores support greater student choice for college, career, and beyond
- Test results directly affect postsecondary enrollment
Chart Source: Texas Education Agency
Percent of Graduates Generating Funding
