District Offers New Lapel Pin to Celebrate College Readiness Milestone

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Eligible graduating seniors of the Class of 2024 will be the first to wear the pin a high school student designed.

A couple of years ago, the Texas Success Initiative Assessment (commonly known as TSIA or TSI) the State of Texas made it a requirement for all entering college students. That requirement aligned with Aldine ISD’s vision and mission. Maximizing choices and opportunities for all Aldine students are priorities in the district’s strategic plan. One important initiative is increasing the number of college and career-ready students. AISD offers ample opportunities for students to take the TSIA, which is free for students.

The Office of Postsecondary Outcomes has also worked to promote TSIA in every AISD high school.

“We wanted something to celebrate this important student milestone,” said Dr. Autumn Boyd, executive director of postsecondary outcomes. “We have stoles and cords for community service to Student Council and more, but we didn’t have something that recognizes a key milestone for our college-bound students. Now we do.”

The Office of Postsecondary Outcomes invited all grades 9-12 students to design a TSI pin. Those who were interested submitted their designs.

The winning design came from Lesly Lisseth Mejía, a 10th-grade student at Davis High School. Boyd thinks this is the first pin in Texas to recognize students who meet TSI readiness requirements.

“When designing the TSI pin, I pictured how students work hard to accomplish their academic goals. In the design of the pin, you can see an open book. It represents how we (students) have always had textbooks and notes by our side to help us get better in subjects and prepare us for tests. I wanted to capture the essence of our academic journey,” said Lesly.

Lesly enjoys art greatly, noting that it can be emotional and individualistic. You must be ready for the unexpected and that an end product can look different from its inspiration. She is grateful to her middle school art teachers — Ms. Tutman and Ms. Burn, her second-grade friend who taught her to draw, her supportive family, and everyone along her educational and artistic journey. She also hopes that students are proud to wear the TSI pin.

“I hope everyone wearing the pin I have designed is proud of what they have accomplished in high school,” said Lesly. “I hope everyone who walks the stage accomplishes all the goals they want to achieve in college and the rest of their lives. That’s when I will feel happy and relieved knowing that they like the design I have made for them and that it made a small impact on their lives.”

High schools will award the TSI lapel pins to qualifying students in late April or May.

What is the TSIA, and Why Is it Important?

The state requires the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Assessment for all entering college students. TSIA assesses college readiness in reading, writing, and math unless the student qualifies for an exemption or demonstrates college readiness.

The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) program is designed to help colleges and universities determine if you are ready for college-level coursework in reading, writing, and mathematics. All incoming college students must take the TSI Assessment (TSIA2) unless they qualify for an exemption based on their SAT or ACT scores.

After high school, based on your performance on the TSIA2, you may be enrolled in a college-level course. Students who do not pass are placed in the appropriate developmental/remedial courses. These classes help fill education gaps and are required but do not count toward college degree plans.

District Offers Opportunities to Students to Take TSI Assessment

Students can satisfy the TSI Assessment requirement by taking the test at an Aldine ISD high school. The test is free for students.

Questions

Contact your school counselor or Advise Texas Advisor if you have any TSIA or college readiness questions or to learn how to sign up for testing.