Tag Archives: college jumpstart options

Ohio to adopt career-tech report card

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Ohio’s State Board of Education is set to approve an A-F report card for career-technical schools, which will make Ohio the first and only state to issue a graded report card for career-technical education.

The career-tech report card is reported to be a “collaborative effort” between Governor Kasich’s office, the Board of Regents, the state board and a variety of career-technical education associations. It will provide five graded components, including:

    • Reading
    • Math
    • Four-year graduation rate
    • Five-year graduation rate
    • Post-career-technical education program placement

Also included in the report card will be one non-graded component, “Prepared for Success,” which will reflect student participation in earning early college credit. This will include:

  • Advanced placement
  • Post-secondary enrollment options
  • International baccalaureate
  • National standard college entrance test participation
  • Remediation-free attainment
  • Honors diplomas
  • Other college-career ready assessments

Like the local report card, the career-tech report card would use an A-F grading scale, and the additional components for graded and non-graded measures on the report card would phase in over the next three school years. As stated in House Bill 555, the first report card has to be published by Sept. 1, 2013 for the 2012-13 school year.

A career-tech report card is another great step in providing parents with as much information as possible, giving them the ability to make informed choices when it comes to their students’ education.

More Proof of College Jumpstart Success

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The push for dual enrollment, programs that allow high school students to begin earning college credit for free, is on the rise. And for good reason: A recent report released by Boston-based nonprofit Jobs for the Future shows that high school students who took college courses during high school are more likely to enroll in and graduate from college.

Dual-enrollment students are those who have completed college courses while enrolled in a high school that awarded both high school and college credit for their courses.  The study has shown that dual-enrollment students were almost 50% more likely to earn a college degree than those who were not enrolled in the program.  This is a significant distinction as high school graduates continue to face an increasingly educated and competitive job market.

As the Huffington Post reported, the study followed over 32,000 Texas high school students over the course of six years after graduation.  Half the students were dually enrolled while the other half was not and both groups were similar according to their academic and social backgrounds. The impact of dual enrollment was strong across both racial and income lines and dual-enrollment, low-income students proved more likely to attend a four-year university after graduation.

The report urges other states to follow Texas’ example and to employ further college-prep programs designed to target “underrepresented groups in higher education.” This is another crucial wayfor underserved youth to access opportunities that will prepare them for success.

To read the full report please click here.

Ohio is a leader in this area and has many options for high schoolers to earn college credit for free. Be sure to check out School Choice Ohio’s website for the full scoop.

Career and College Prep Coursework prepares students for success

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As young adults continue to face an increasingly competitive and educated job market, many students are enrolling in College Jumpstart and career-prep programs in order to ensure they stand out in the field of potential applicants.

Consequently, Ohio schools have begun to step up the quality and availability of these alternative high school programs as a means to better prepare their students for life after graduation.

One such initiative is the Ohio Plan for Career-Technical Education, a collaborative effort of multiple levels of coursework designed to prepare high school students for postsecondary education in their area of interest. These programs also provide students with career prep for high-skill, high-wage, and high-demand occupations.

Ohio’s College Tech Prep programs combines work-based learning with knowledge and skill development in preparation for postsecondary education.  The CTE program also offers students great diversity as it provides education in sixteen different fields ranging from information technology to human services.

Most often, career coursework is associated with the Workforce Development (WFD) initiative which provides in-depth training and coursework in fields where students receive a minimum of 450 hours of instruction.

As of 2011, 23% of Ohio’s high school students were enrolled in WFD and 13% of those enrolled were also placed in advanced courses such as higher-level mathematics.  With this level of academic and career preparation, WFD students graduate at a rate of 98.74% and 90.17% receive placement at postsecondary institutions.

CTE programs can primarily be found in city, local, exempted village and joint vocational school districts, but increasingly they can be found in charter schools and youth correctional facilities as well.  So long as the charter school has an approved career-technical program, any student may enroll according to the policies and procedures of the specific school.

Be sure to check your local school to see if career-tech is a viable option for your child and please visit the Ohio Department of Education, TechPrepOhio, or feel free to contact School Choice Ohio for more information about career-prep and other college jumpstart programs. These options are already working for thousands of Ohio students and could make a difference in the career future of your child!

Apply now for a Digital AP Tuition Waiver

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ilearnOhio is offering one-time funds for Ohio high schools students – both public and private – who want to enroll in an online Advance Placement (AP) course. Applications for the Digital AP Tuition Waiver are now being accepted. There will be little to no cost to the student or the school.

For those of you who are interested in knowing what criteria are used to determine if a student is eligible for a Digital AP Tuition Waiver, check out the eligibility requirements below from ilearnOhio.

  1. The student must attend an Ohio high school or be homeschooled with an Ohio school of residence.
  2. The student is capable of completing an online AP course.
  3. A school official must complete the application for the student through ilearnOhio.
  4. The district or school (or school of residence for homeschooled students) enrolling the student shall award the student credit for successful completion of the course.

Note that a student may only receive one AP course fee waiver.

To sign up, a student and his or her school leader must search the ilearnOhio course catalog to identify the AP course that the student will complete. Then, the school leader will complete the application for the student.

If you have questions, send them to web@ilearnOhio.org or visit www.ilearnOhio.org.

 

More doors open for private school students

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There’s no better cost for college than FREE, right?

You’ve heard us talk about how easy Ohio makes it for high school students to earn college credit for free. And those options just got a little broader.

As of last week, private school and homeschooled students are now eligible to take online college courses through the OhioLearns Gateway. Previously, only public school students were able to receive funding. This opens the door to a new pathway to free college credits.

A limited number of private school students were already eligible for funding to take Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) courses at their local colleges and universities.

This is one more step toward the day when families will be able to choose the combination of courses and settings that work best for their children and have the funding follow them to make it feasible.

We commend our legislature for moving in that equitable and efficient direction. And we encourage you to take a look at these programs to see if they could be a good fit for your child – public or private.

High School Students Can Earn College Credit for Free

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Parents – did you know that it is possible for your child to get college credit for free during high school? Many students even earn an associate’s degree by the time they graduate high school – all for free.  Ohio’s Post-Secondary Enrollment option allows students to take college classes –on campus or online—and receive both college and high school credit.

Students in grades 9-12 in public or private school with a 3.0 GPA or higher in the subject of the college course they want to take are eligible. Students can take the courses during the school year or even in the summer months, including day, evening, and weekend classes.

There is no cost for tuition, fees, materials or books. In some cases, transportation costs can also be reimbursed. College credit can often be transferred to a different college after high school graduation.

The deadline to apply for the 2012-2013 school year is March 30.

This is an excellent opportunity for Ohio students to get a jumpstart on their college degree at no cost!  A former student who took advantage of this opportunity summed it up best…

“I attended a local community college during high school for a year. I am getting ready to graduate with my bachelor’s degree in psychology and am very thankful to have been able to use that year to really seek out my calling and not have to pay a penny for it.” – Katie Webb

Click here for more information about Post Secondary Enrollment Options from the Ohio Department of Education.  Learn about all of Ohio’s college jumpstart options here.

Conversation on College Jumpstart Options Spreads

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The Ohio College Access Network’s annual conference was held this week at the Renaissance Hotel in Downtown Columbus.

This year’s event featured a panel session highlighting the College Jumpstart Options that students can use to earn free college credit during high school.

Sarah Pechan from School Choice Ohio joined Greg Brown from The Charles School (an early college high school), Dylan Rodriguez representing a student perspective on College Tech Prep Melissa Cardenas from the Ohio Board of Regents, and Kate Harkin of ETech on the panel, which was moderated by Ann Bischoff of KidsOhio.org.

We published a brochure about these incredibly important options earlier this year. It has been very well received and we’re glad to get the information out to even more education professionals through the conference. Thanks to all those who joined us on the panel to share their perspectives.

Metro High School student shares powerful story at TEDxColumbus

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Columbus’ most recent locally-hosted Technology, Entertainment, and Design (TED) event, featured a graduate of The Metro School, one of the most innovative high schools in Franklin County. TED is a “small nonprofit devoted to ideas worth spreading,” and they hit it right on the money by spreading the vision of schools matched to students and designed to their long-term success.

Meagan Jones, a graduate of Metro – a mastery, early college, STEM school – shared the way her school leaders incorporated her artistic interests into their science-focused curriculum. Their flexibility and willingness to personalize the education made all the difference for Meagan who is now a student at Ohio State.

The focus on making education relevant to students – an approach mirrored in the Cristo Rey private school network – is clearly crucial. We applaud the relational, compelling schools across Ohio who make learning fun and show students how it applies to their interests and futures. Thank you, Meagan, for sharing your story with Columbus leaders!

P.S. As an early college high school student, Meagan was able to graduate high school with 47 credits – yes, nearly a year and half worth of college education. For free.

One stop for diploma and degree

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Do you know a student interested in jumpstarting his or her college experience? Or someone who wants to save a lot of money by completing college graduation requirements while still in high school?

We recently told you about a new College Jumpstart brochure we published in partnership with KidsOhio and the Columbus Urban League. Since then, people across the state have called to request several thousand copies, and we have prepared a Spanish-language version.

This blog entry spotlights one of the programs described in the brochure.

Program Spotlight: Early College High Schools

“The opportunity to receive two years of college credits while in high school is spectacular. I never expected to have this chance.”  – Jesse Kelly

Early College High Schools offer a challenging program that combines high school with the first two years of college. Students who graduate from an early college high school can earn a high school diploma AND a two-year college degree at the same time. As with all the college jumpstart options, these high schools are tuition free.

This is a great opportunity that can make that frustrating transition from high school to college much easier. Students typically graduate from high school with their high school diploma and an associate degree, or 2 years credit toward their 4-year bachelor degree.

Ohio has 10 Early College High Schools, each with its own unique focus and style.

The early college high schools are specifically designed to empower first-generation college goers, low-income youth, and other young people underrepresented in higher education.

For a national perspective, check out the Early College High School Initiative.

Advance your way to college

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Do you know a student interested in jumpstarting his or her college experience? Or someone who wants to save a lot of money by completing college graduation requirements while still in high school? 

We recently told you about a new College Jumpstart brochure we published in partnership with KidsOhio and the Columbus Urban League. Since then, people across Ohio have called to request several thousand copies, and we have prepared a Spanish-language version.

This blog entry spotlights one of the programs described in the brochure.

Program Spotlight: Advanced Placement Courses

“The Advanced Placement courses I took saved me and my family time and money. By earning college credit in high school, I was able to graduate from Ohio State in three years instead of four.”  – David Haskell

Advanced Placement (AP) is a program that offers high-level high school classes that can count for both high school and college credit. AP allows students to take advantage of upper-level courses in a field of interest which will make them a stronger student and a more competitive college applicant.

There are more than 30 possible courses, which cover a range of English, Science, Math, History, Art, and Technology subjects.

The Advanced Placement program gives students the chance to advance in college while they’re still in high school. After finishing an AP class, students take an AP exam. Public colleges in Ohio grant free college credit to students who earn a score of 3 or more of 5 possible points on the exam.

Even if you’re a home school student or your high school does not offer AP classes, students can still participate through independent study. More specifics are available through schools’ AP coordinator or AP Services.