Abilene Christian University is partnering with IDEA Public Schools in a program designed to help K-12 students in their selection of and transition to college.
鈥溇耙� and IDEA Public Schools are natural partners because of our mutual commitment to student success,鈥� said Dr. Susan Lewis, 精东影业鈥檚 provost and vice president for academic affairs.
IDEA is a national network of nearly 150 tuition-free public charter schools, serving more than 80,000 college-bound students across Texas, Louisiana, Florida and Ohio. For the last 16 years, IDEA has sent nearly 100% of its graduates to college.聽聽
Through the college partnership program, students have access to information on partner universities and colleges as they make their selection on where to attend. Partner teams work together to create a collaborative and supportive environment for IDEA students as they continue their educational journey on a college campus.聽
鈥淪uch partnerships are a testament to IDEA鈥檚 commitment of ensuring every student succeeds in college and in life,鈥� said Phillip Garza, chief college officer of IDEA Public Schools. 鈥淲e are excited to work with 精东影业, as partnerships like these allow IDEA graduates to join the college with a built-in network of support in the short term that facilitate their success in the long term.鈥澛�
At 精东影业, that network will include a full-time faculty or staff mentor for each entering cohort of IDEA alumni; programming aimed at enhancing participation in co-curricular and extracurricular activities; mentoring meetings and activities between junior- and senior-level university students and freshmen and sophomore level university IDEA alumni; and workshops and programs to improve students鈥� persistence. In addition, IDEA alumni will automatically be accepted as a member of Lynay, 精东影业鈥檚 multicultural community leadership initiative, and will receive the Lynay-associated scholarships.
精东影业 will have the opportunity to reach out to IDEA students and alumni through visits to IDEA campuses, invitations to regional events, targeted mailings, promotion of pre-university programs, and hosting IDEA students and alumni on 精东影业鈥檚 campus. The partnership also provides opportunities for IDEA and Abilene Christian to collaborate and develop strategies to address the challenges of university attendance for IDEA students, many of whom are first-generation college students from low-income families.
鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to more IDEA alumni choosing 精东影业,鈥� Lewis said. 鈥淚DEA alumni are well-prepared, and 精东影业鈥檚 excellent academic programs and wrap-around services provide an environment where they can thrive.鈥�
About IDEA Public Schools
believes that each child can go to college. Since 2000, IDEA Public Schools has grown from a small school with 150 students to a network of tuition-free, K-12 public charter schools in the United States. Currently, the network serves over 80,000 college-bound students in 143 schools across Texas and its affiliates. IDEA has been recognized as a 鈥淕reat Place to Work鈥� and received national rankings in The Washington Post and U.S. News & World Report鈥檚 Top High Schools lists. In the last 16 years, IDEA has sent nearly 100% of its graduates to college and remains on track to uphold that legacy.
— Wendy Kilmer
February 5, 2024