Tag Archives: College Preparedness

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.

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.

 

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.

Embracing the Common Core

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Today the Thomas B. Fordham Institute , Ohio Grantmakers Forum, and Achieve hosted an event called “Embracing the Common Core: Helping Students Thrive.” Speakers at the event talked about how Ohio will be on board with new national standards developed by the National Governor’s Association. Teachers will mainly focus on preparing students for success in three important subjects: literature, English, and math.

Stan Heffner, State Superintendent of Public Instruction told the group that there was a survey that students completed, and 40-45 % said that they were not prepared for college. Do you feel that this number is too high? When I was in college classes for the first time, I felt unprepared even though I took college preparation classes in high school. The goal of the Common Core is for all students to graduate from high school ready for college and career.

Because the Common Core is benchmarked against international standards that are more rigorous than Ohio’s current standards, several speakers said that they expect Ohio test scores to plummet initially. With the higher standards, it will be interesting to see how school districts handle and communicate the expected drop in scores. Will schools be able to buckle down and teach the majority of students what they need to know in the “real world”?     

There is going to be a lot of work that goes along with aligning teaching to the new standards. A good amount of school districts are already on board with the core curriculum, but what about those that are just waiting to “teach the test”? One of the speakers made a great point about how teachers will tell students that they need to know information because it is on the test. Has anyone else heard that before?

I had the experience of being in the Class of 2007, which was the first class that had to take the OGT (Ohio Graduation Test) to graduate. It was obvious that teachers felt the need to take time just to give us practice questions because this was the real deal. I learned how to become a great test-taker, but I also learned how to forget about the material once the test was over.

The purpose of this new test for students is not to help them become better test-takers, but to help them thrive in adulthood. Michael Cohen, president of Achieve, recommends that districts begin working towards the common core now instead of waiting for the test to come out because this will be a tough transition.

Be sure to check out more information about the event. Check out School Choice Ohio’s tweets on the event as well, and tell us what you think. How do you feel about higher standards? About a partially national curriculum?

-Krista Everett

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.

“High Tech Highs” Across Ohio

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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: College Tech Prep

“If students can get a technical skill and combine that with a strong, related academic curriculum, they get the best of both worlds.”  - Jim Rarric, guidance counselor

Through College Tech Prep, high school students can earn up to two years of college education and professional training, before graduation – for free!

These specialized programs combine high school classes with college-level career courses. They allow students to work toward their high school diploma while simultaneously preparing them for high tech professional careers in exciting and cutting-edge fields.

Know anyone interested in interactive media, industrial engineering, graphic design, health technology, criminal science, biotechnology, construction, law, or entertainment? College Tech Prep is a great way to explore these careers without paying a cent. College-equivalent courses taught on the high school level jumpstart the certification process.

Students usually begin Tech Prep classes in 11th grade, and every College Tech Prep Program of Study links directly to a degree or certificate program at a partner college.

Participating students can gain valuable professional experience and training, earn both college and high school credit for graduation, and enter college at an advanced level after high school, all without spending a dime.

Contact your high school guidance counselor or info@scohio.org for more information about the Tech Prep programs in your area!

Free classes, free college, free credit

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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.

In this blog entry, we spotlight one of these programs:

Program Spotlight: Post Secondary Enrollment Options

“I attended a local community college during high school for a year. I 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

Through Ohio’s Post Secondary Enrollment Options Program (PSEOP), high school students can take classes at local colleges for both high school and college credit – for free.

This opportunity is great because it’s so flexible. Students can take as many or as few classes as they want, and they can take those classes during the day, in the evening, on the weekends, or even over the summer. The courses can be on-campus or online.

Anyone in public, private, or home school entering grades 9-12 can enroll, providing they have a 3.0 GPA or higher in the subject of the college course they want to take.

A student who applies in 8th grade and starts in 9th grade can earn college credit each year and potentially earn an associate’s degree or beyond by the time they graduate from high school. On the other hand, a high school senior might sign up and take just one college class to help with the transition to college.

PSEOP challenges students who want the college experience, and rewards them for their commitment in free tuition, free books and materials, and free credit.