Career and College Promise
February 14, 2011 - Governor Beverly Perdue announced her Career and College Promise (CCP) initiative during her State of the State address Feb. 14 with important implications for both early college high schools and new small schools operating under the Cooperative Innovative High Schools program.
CCP is a an important step forward for North Carolina as our state moves to create a stronger workforce and to ensure that every young person graduates high school prepared for work and for continued education.
Specifically, CCP will provide the option for every junior and senior to secure up to 30 hours of college credit while in high school if they meet certain criteria.
For schools operating under the Cooperative and Innovative High Schools program, the criteria remain unchanged:
- Early College High Schools: First generation college-going students and those requiring additional support to graduate high school and to succeed in college level courses remain the target population for ECHS. Selection of students and access to college courses remain the same.
- Small Schools on Traditional Campuses: New small schools will also have access to college-level courses. As in the past, these schools will be encouraged to set school-wide targets for college credit for all students and to form ties with colleges and universities. These schools also have greater flexibility to pursue college coursework for their students.
The plan would streamline the acquisition of college credit for high school students and creates new pathways for juniors and seniors to enroll in college courses. The Career and College Promise initiative also affirms the role of innovative approaches to secondary education that emphasize college credit for high school students.
What was announced?
Governor Perdue's initiative will simplify the myriad programs that now allow high school students to earn college credit. The Governor proposes three distinct pathways to credit, beginning with the 2011-2012 school year:
- Career and Technical Education (CTE)
- College Transfer Pathway (CTP)
- Cooperative Innovative High School Programs
With these three pathways, every North Carolina student will have the option to earn their first two years of college at no cost.
The Governor announced that her "College Promise" initiative will be rebranded as the "Career and College Promise," a program that will give high school students the opportunity to earn two years of career training or a two-year college degree tuition-free.
How does this change affect NC New Schools Project affiliated schools?
The designation of schools operating under the Cooperative Innovative High School Program as a distinct category in the Career and College Promise Pathways recognizes the importance of these schools in aiding low-income students to become college-ready. This includes early college high schools and small schools operating on the campus of larger conventional high schools. These schools challenge and support underserved students in becoming ready for college and work.
This change addresses concerns expressed by some new schools this past year when it became unclear as to how their students could secure college credit. The new program also will enable early college high schools to more easily serve the target population since students from middle-income families can secure college credit while remaining in their traditional high school.
What specifically are the new pathways to college credit and who is eligible?
Courses offered through the new initiative can be either online or face-to-face instruction.
To be eligible for either the Career and Technical Education and College Transfer pathways, students must maintain a grade of "B" be a high school junior or senior, avoid alcohol or drugs, and pass a placement exam.
For Cooperative Innovative High School Programs, student eligibility remains unchanged. For example, the program recognizes that first-generation college students often require additional support to become college and work ready.
For small schools operating on existing campuses under the Cooperative Innovative High School Program, students can be enrolled in college courses in much the same way as early college high schools. Almost all of these new small schools serve high-needs students, and this program presents an opportunity for the schools to continue strengthening their ties with colleges and universities to set clear targets for college credit acquisition for all graduates.
What happens next?
The Career and College Promise Pathways initiative is included in the Governor's budget proposal. However, the Governor intends to move this initiative forward within existing funds that already provide for the cost of college credit acquisition. The Governor's budget proposal will likely be released on Thursday of this week, and we can expect continued support for early college and other innovative high schools.
The Governor's education agenda -- Career and College - Ready, Set, Go! -- has already aligned with the work of the North Carolina New Schools Project.
READY: Increase the number of students who can read, write and do math at the end of grade three
SET: Increase the number of students that perform at or above grade level
GO: Increase the number of students taking college credit courses while in high school; graduating from high school; going to college; and completing a degree from community colleges, colleges and universities
For more detail, visit Career & College - Ready, Set, Go online or download the Governor's education agenda for 2011.
