Program offering early college courses expanding

ASHLAND, Ky. (AP) - A program to offer college classes to high school students in northeastern Kentucky is being expanded.

The Independent (https://bit.ly/1iyllpV) reports Ashland Community and Technical College plans to offer more courses to more high schools in the fall. The move comes after a successful pilot program at Paul Blazer High School in Ashland.

ACTC President Kay Atkins said early college options have been offered to nine school districts in northeastern Kentucky. She says three have accepted, two are seriously considering it and other districts have shown an interest but are still assessing student interest.

The program will offer criminal justice and childcare courses in the fall in addition to pre-nursing and pre-engineering programs offered this year. There will also be a variety of vocational courses offered such as heating and air conditioning and computerized manufacturing.

Atkins said the program has had a successful start.

“It has exceeded our expectations. It was an amazing experience for the ACTC?faculty and for the students,”?she said.

Officials used the first year to work out problems such as conflicting breaks and vacations. She said when breaks conflicted, college faculty were available.

Janie Kitchen, dean of academic affairs, said some high school students were surprised by the college-level rigors. Kitchen says there will be a meeting before the semester begins to address that and to introduce students to the school.

Caroline Fannin, a high school senior who enrolled in the pre-nursing program, said she had to study more and become more self-motivated to succeed.

“It is completely different from anything I’ve experienced in high school,”?Fannin said.

She said college professors didn’t cut her any slack, but were available to help when she needed it.

Ashland Superintendent Steve Gilmore said the ACTC option will help the district meet a state educational mandate to prepare high school students for college and careers.

Students in the program and attend high school classes in the morning and take college courses in the afternoon.

___

Information from: The Independent, https://www.dailyindependent.com