Texas will pour an extra $1.5 billion into its high schools over the next four years in an attempt to better prepare students for college - an initiative that should make its mark this fall with the introduction of more counselors, improved science labs and tougher classes at some Houston-area schools.

High school leaders have the formidable, but welcomed, task this summer of deciding how to best spend the $275-per-student stipend, which was earmarked this spring by state lawmakers.

"Educators ... understand that the finish line has shifted and that high school nowadays really has to be a pathway to higher education," said Christi Martin, a Texas Education Agency senior adviser.

Much of the money will go toward teacher training, SAT preparation classes and dual-credit programs, where students can simultaneously earn both high school and college credit, Martin said. Some of the money will also be spent preparing students to complete four years of math and science, a graduation requirement that will first impact this year's incoming eighth-grade class.

"The expectations are ratcheting up," Martin said. "This is sort of the next step in helping to meet the targets."

Educators across the nation are struggling to address the low test scores and high dropout rates that continue to plague high schools, especially urban ones. Houston-area administrators said they're thrilled that the Legislature put some extra money toward the problem.

Each district has developed a plan that they hope will help prepare students for college.

Spring Branch, for instance, plans to use its $2.2 million to hire six additional counselors, purchase 500 handheld computerized SAT guides, update their science labs and add a teacher at each high school, said associate superintendent Jennifer Blaine.

Each high school will also receive $25,000 this year for tutoring or mentoring programs, she said.

"We wanted to make sure we did things that had lasting benefits for kids," Blaine said.

Clear Creek Superintendent Sandra Mossman said her district is using its $2.7 million to lower the student-teacher ratio in algebra classes to 15-to-1.

Clear Creek also hired math and science specialists to work at the high schools, Mossman said.

The new high school allotment will bring an additional $11.9 million to the Houston Independent School District, where 11 of 23 comprehensive high schools were branded with "unacceptable" ratings earlier this month. More than 7 percent of Texas' 1,687 high schools received the state's lowest rating.

Houston will spend some of the money hiring college access coordinators to help teens prepare, apply and figure out how to pay for higher education, said Kelly Trlica, assistant superintendent for secondary curriculum, instruction and assessment.

"HISD was committed to these things - the college-bound culture - before we got this allotment, but we're just thankful to have it," she said.

One of the main problems that Houston's money will go toward is huge achievement gaps in math and science.

In 2006, for instance, 90 percent of Anglo students passed the science portion of the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, compared with 55 percent of Hispanic students and 49 percent of black students.

HISD must find ways to create engaging lessons that use technology and pose real-life problems, Trlica said.

"Our challenge is to create a different classroom that provides a very rigorous curriculum, a very challenging curriculum to students from all walks of life who are not always motivated to be in school," Trlica said.

Michele Pola, executive director of the Houston A+ Challenge, said she's pleased that the Legislature has given Texas' high schools some much-needed extra help.

"It's very clear that we have to do much more for our high school students," she said.

While high schools are struggling, Pola said there is some cause for optimism. With the help of literacy coaches and a focus on reading, many high schools have managed to raise their language arts scores.

Districts should replicate that model of hiring coaches and specialists, she said.

"My hope is that they would be innovative and see what interests and motivates young people and how they learn," said Pola, adding that schools should use subjects kids enjoy, such as art, music and architecture, to help students better grasp math.

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HB 1 GUIDELINES

According to House Bill 1, schools must spend their $275 per-student high-school allotment on programs that:

prepare underachieving students for college

encourage students toward advanced academic opportunities, including dual credit and advanced placement

give students opportunities to take academically rigorous course work, including four years of math and science

align the curriculum for grades six through 12 with college-level work