College, Career, and Military Readiness Usage in Accountability
For secondary school administrators, college, career, and military readiness (CCMR) indicators play an integral part in determining school and district A–F letter grades for accountability. As a school leader, you are well versed in the three domains that evaluate student performance in Texas: Student Achievement, School Progress, and Closing the Gaps. Below, we recap CCMR indicators, discuss a tool for measuring and tracking indicators, and explore CCMR Outcomes Bonuses.
CCMR and Accountability: A Recap
Our accountability system maintains a strong focus on CCMR indicators in each of these areas. CCMR has the potential to affect each domain in a different way – here’s how:
In the Student Achievement domain, CCMR is one of three indicators, together with STAAR tests and graduation rates. CCMR accounts for 40% of the Student Achievement domain.
In the School Progress domain, Academic Growth measures academic improvement from one year to the next, while Relative Performance evaluates the average of STAAR and CCMR performance compared to campuses and districts with similar percentages of economically disadvantaged students.
In the Closing the Gaps domain, School Quality measures graduates' preparedness for college, a career, or the military. This is one of four components that measures individual student groups and their ability to meet specific performance targets. Other components of this domain are Academic Achievement, Graduation Rate, and English Language Proficiency.
It's easy to forget the specifics of what counts as a CCMR indicator. The Texas Education Agency identifies the CCMR indicators below in many of their A–F Accountability resources:
Many districts were keeping track of this data manually or by combining data from student management systems with data from vendors such as the College Board and ACT. In August 2020, TEA created the CCMR Tracker. This free tool aggregates this data for you in one place for students in grades 9–12. The tracker is available through the TEA Login (TEAL) to help ensure that every student is prepared for college, a career, or the military by graduation. It is important to note the 2020 CCMR Tracker includes CCMR outcomes reported through summer 2019.
CCMR Outcomes Bonuses
While the A–F Accountability system was halted for the 2019–2020 school year due to COVID-19, CCMR Outcomes Bonuses provided by House Bill 3 (HB3) of the 86th Texas Legislature were awarded in September 2019. These bonuses are paid annually for the accomplishments of graduates above a certain percentage threshold in three different groups: economically disadvantaged, non-economically disadvantaged, and special education students.
These bonuses align with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s 60x30 goals. They incentivize innovation and achievement for districts that ensure equity among economically disadvantaged, non-economically disadvantaged, and special education students.
The purpose of the funds is to reward districts not only for preparing students for college, a career, and the military, but for students enrolling in an institution of higher education, enlisting in the military, or completing a credential.
How Much Are CCMR Outcomes Bonuses?
Bonuses are paid for each annual graduate above a certain percentage threshold in the following amounts:
Administrators should note and share with staff and school leaders that the CCMR indicators used for bonus funds are MORE rigorous than the CCMR indicators used in the A–F Accountability system. To dig deeper into CCMR Outcomes Bonus funds, check out HB3 in 30.
District Strategies and Practice: Using CCMR Outcomes Bonuses
Texas OnCourse works closely with the Keller Independent School District through our district fellowship program. We asked them how they used their CCMR Outcomes Bonus funds to support students and college and career readiness initiatives. As a district, they are committed to providing exceptional opportunities to prepare students for their postsecondary futures. Keller ISD is using funds for the following programs and positions:
Establishing new college and career centers at each of its four traditional high school campuses. These centers provide resources for the school community and are staffed with college and career coaching staff.
Supporting the Advanced Placement Scholarship Program. Keller ISD is committed to ensuring that students with limited resources are considered for assistance when covering the cost of their AP exams.
Opening a new Early College High School. In the fall of 2021, students will have access to enroll in an Early College High School experience and begin college coursework.
Reimbursing students for industry-based certification. Keller ISD staff will continue to support CTE programming by providing industry-based certification reimbursement for students who pass these certification exams.
These are just some examples of how schools and districts can use funds to invest in programs, training, personnel, and student activities to further enhance their students’ preparedness for college, career, or the military after graduation. Keller ISD has done a phenomenal job using TEA’s guidance on allowable expenses to enhance teaching, counseling, and advising in their district. The Keller ISD fellowship team includes Paul Higgins, middle school counselor; Marsha Cummins, district college and career coordinator; and Katrina Johnson, high school counselor – with support from executive director of student advancement Leslee Shepherd.
Texas OnCourse Solutions: Aligning Resources with CCMR Indicators
The chart below details how modules from the Academy and lessons from the College and Career Readiness Curriculum line up with CCMR indicators. When your teaching and counseling staff complete relevant modules, you improve the quality of advising and service your district provides to students – in turn improving their preparedness for college, career, or the military. By offering instruction in middle school through our College and Career Readiness Curriculum, you instill awareness of postsecondary pathways at an early age.
For your students who have not yet demonstrated college readiness, we want to remind you of Texas College Bridge, TEA’s online math and English curriculum. College Bridge also offers a College and Career Support component. Be sure your counselors download our supplementary advising guide.
Additional Resources for School Leaders, Educators, and Students
Webinar: Understanding the TSIA2. We provide updates on the TSIA2 from experts at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. (October 2020)
The College and Career Strategist is written by Texas OnCourse staff.
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