Dozens of public high schools in eight states have signed on to participate in a program that would allow 10th graders who pass a battery of tests to receive high-school diplomas two years early and immediately enroll in a community college, The New York Times reports. The nonprofit National Center on Education and the Economy is spearheading the project and outlined its goals in a December 2006 report that laid out a sweeping proposal for overhauling the nation’s education system.
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6 Responses to High Schools in 8 States Will Test Program Allowing 10th Graders to Attend College Early
drj50 - February 18, 2010 at 12:36 pm
Interesting, but I’m puzzled. Earlier this week there was a report (which I now cannot find) that highlighted the importance of four years of high school math (through trig) for college success. Not even bright high school students will have completed that much math, so I’m wondering . . .At least other one news report indicated that students would not be limited to attending a community college, but could enroll “at a two- or four-year post-secondary school with open admissions” (http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10049/1036726-454.stm). Are four-year institutions included?
11283996 - February 18, 2010 at 6:29 pm
College readiness involves more than passing a fundamental skills test. It is reasonable perhaps to permit “college eligible” 12th graders to enter college, assuming they can demonstrate other required skills to be a successful college student. However,10th graders in college, just shifts the learning and self maturation problems from high schools to colleges. Then, what will happen to high schools? Several scenarios could happen and none of them seem reasonable for those students with skills deficits.
kittybware - February 19, 2010 at 9:24 am
Bright students can complete that much math by mid high school. I took algebra in 8th grade, trig and geometry my freshman year and calculus my sophomore year. by my senior year i was taking college courses for credit in math and english through my high school…in the ’80s. One problem with this proposal is it is only applicable to the few, not the many. Push unprepared kids through the system and they will not realize success. Even a ‘prepared’ kid like myself (18 and used to success) only lasted 2 semesters in college before I realized I was in over my head. Academically prepared does not equal mental and emotional preparation and most of the young college students I encounter are not ready to be in the university. How can we expect even younger students to thrive?
northerness - February 23, 2010 at 9:16 am
At Northern Essex Community College in MA, we are very excited about our Early College Program which we started with a local high school (Amesbury) last fall. Designed for students in the middle of the class academically, the program gives students the opportunity to take college courses their sophomore through senior years that are co-taught at the high school by college faculty and a high school teacher. Of the 31 sophomores who began the program in the fall, all are still enrolled and when they complete their sophomore year they will receive credit for three college courses: American Lit I, US History I, and a College Success Seminar. In their junior year, they will take American Lit II, US History II, an art course and a technology course and by the time they graduate from high school, they will have 34 college credits that are guaranteed to transfer to any public college or university in Massachusetts. The program is drawing praise from parents, students, and the Amesbury High School principal. The goal is to graduate high school students who are better prepared for college and it seems to be succeeding. Students are becoming far more serious about their academics and are beginning to see themselves as successful students. It’s very exciting!
julieann110 - February 23, 2010 at 12:37 pm
I have to agree with Kittybware that “Academically prepared does not equal mental and emotional preparation and most of the young college students I encounter are not ready to be in the university.” I see so many 19 and 20-year olds who are just not mature enough to handle the workload and still expect to have course policies adjusted to suit them. How can we expect 15 and 16-year olds to compete?Even Dual Enrollment programs have similar problems and those kids are still sitting in their high school classrooms. Pushing kids into college early isn’t the answer.
22235124 - February 24, 2010 at 12:20 am
I taught high school English for many years. I now teach in a university. Sophomores in high school are NOT ready emotionally for college life. Many of my students were quite bright. They were capable of reading college-level literature and were outstanding writers. Still, they struggled through the adolescent traumas of dates, parental disagreements, acne, being too short/tall/fat/skinny, etc. that all of us went through. In college, they would be on their own emotionally.Now, I teach freshmen in college. Their maturity level is not adult, although they are 18, 19, or even 20 years old. Imagine mixing that group with 15 year olds! What lunacy!