Texas College Bridge

Texas College Bridge

When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down in-person classes across Texas school districts, many students were left without the opportunity to complete TSI Assessment testing, putting their opportunity for postsecondary advancement at risk. EMS worked in partnership with the Texas Education Agency (TEA), Commit Foundation, The NROC Project and GreenLight Credentials to design, build, launch and support the basic math and English solutions that these students would need for college readiness. Funded as part of the TEA’s Texas Home Learning program, Texas College Bridge provided students with free, online, personalized college preparatory courses in math and English, that they could take at their own pace with support from a teacher facilitator. Once successfully completed, students were able earn a TSI exemption at a participating college or university, allowing them to enter college by taking entry-level courses. The NROC Project provided the testing platform, while GreenLight Credentials provided the technology to securely store and share the verified credential.

Results

• In the first year of the program, more than 340 school districts signed up to offer Texas College Bridge courses, and more than 40 colleges and universities across the state signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to provide a TSI exemption to students who successfully completed courses.
• After successfully completing Texas College Bridge courses, students who enrolled in Dallas College had higher overall passing rates than students who did not participate in the program — 27% higher in entry level English and 30% higher in entry level Math.
• The TEA has extended funding for the program, free to school districts, through June 2024. For more information, visit TexasCollegeBridge.org