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Washington Daily News | Great expectations for BCECHS students
February 2, 2012 - The atmosphere is muted. Along the carpeted hall, a young woman sits in an overstuffed chair as she types on a laptop; a group of students gather around a table, their heads bent together, working on a project. Outside the glass doors, two others stop to chat in the warm sun. The building, and its inhabitants, have the look and feel of any college, any campus. But it's not. It's high school.
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The Beaufort County Early College High School is a unique, accelerated version of the traditional high school, where in five years, a student may graduate with a high-school diploma and an associate degree. Held in Building 10 on the Beaufort County Community College campus, the school is part of the NC New Schools Project. It's a grants-based project - grants come from a range of corporate, foundation and individual donors, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation - allowing students who may have had little opportunity to go to college get a diploma and a degree at no cost.
"The big incentive here is free college," said Dr. Todd Blumenreich, BCECHS principal.
A former Southside High School principal, Blumenreich was part of the planning committee that recognized the need for a different approach in education and helped write the grants for funding. It started with a question: "What do kids need to be successful at the next level?"
That was four years ago. For two of those four years, BCECHS has been recognized as an honors school of excellence, the highest designation the state of North Carolina gives. And success has come to the BCECHS level - upward of 97 percent of the students enrolled are performing at grade level or above. -
Jacksonville Daily News | Applications open for lateral entry teachers
January 31, 2012 - Applications are now available for a lateral-entry teacher certification program. The State Board of Education approved the North Carolina New Schools Project's STEM Teacher Education Program - STEP - this month for college graduates interested in becoming high school science, math and technology teachers.
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An initiative of NCNSP, the non-traditional teacher education program is supported by the federal Transitions to Teaching grant program, which supports efforts to recruit and retain highly qualified mid-career professionals and recent college graduates interested in earning a teaching license through an alternative route. NCNSP is one of 30 organizations nationwide awarded five-year grants from the U.S. Department of Education to train non-education graduates to teach in high-needs schools, according to an NCNSP release. -
The Roanoke-Chowan News Herald | HCPS eyes federal grant
January 26, 2012 - Hertford County Public Schools will potentially be part of a $15 million grant through the North Carolina New Schools Project.
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The NC New Schools Project (NCNSP) was chosen from among nearly 600 applicants across the country as one of just 23 organizations to potentially share $150 million under the federal Investing in Innovation (i3) competitive grant program.
The initiative from NCNSP is the only proposal in the state recognized for funding in the highly competitive program and HCPS is one of just six districts signed on as partners.
"At HCPS, we are excited to be a part of this difficult to obtain grant," said Hertford County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. John Fahey. "Our high schools are doing well with proficiency rates and graduation rate, 21 out of 115 school districts.
"We hope that this grant will help us perform as well with the new Common Core coming to North Carolina," he added. -
WRAL | Program to train high-demand STEM teachers
January 19, 2012 - The North Carolina State Board of Education approved an alternative certification program Thursday for those interested in teaching high school science, math or technology.
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The North Carolina New Schools Project's STEM Teacher Education Program (STEP) will offer on-the-job training in classroom management and instruction techniques to mid-career professionals. -
The Dispatch | Career academy partners with N.C. Center for Global Logistics
January 17, 2012 - The North Carolina Center for Global Logistics announced Tuesday that the Yadkin Valley Regional Career Academy will become the first high school invited to partner with its network of 23 higher education institutions to prepare students for college degrees and careers in the robust and growing transportation and logistics industry in the Piedmont Triad region. The NCCGL has been a leading proponent with area businesses, higher education and K-12 school districts in developing the curriculum for the regional school, according to a press release from the center.
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The Yadkin Valley Regional Career Academy is one of a network of new career-themed STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) schools supported by the NC New Schools Project, which is providing intensive training and support to develop the innovative school. Students admitted to the school will have the opportunities to explore emerging technologies and careers related to aerospace and advanced manufacturing as well as health and life sciences, representing "high wage-high demand" careers identified by the Piedmont Triad Partnership and the N.C. Jobs Commission as crucial for economic development. -
Henderson | Grants Support Network of Energy & Sustainability Schools
January 6, 2012 - Secondary education focused on the theme of energy and sustainability is getting a significant boost from Progress Energy through a challenge grant to the North Carolina New Schools Project (NCNSP). This year's challenge to support science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education was met by gifts from Duke Energy, ABB Inc. and North Carolina's Electric Cooperatives with donations totaling $165,000.
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This year represents the second of a three-year challenge grant from Progress Energy. Under the terms of the grant, NCNSP raises $100,000 each year from other donors to qualify for a $50,000 annual match from Progress Energy. These funds support an NCNSP-affiliated network of STEM secondary schools with a thematic focus on energy and sustainability. The network includes Avery County High School STEM Academy, Charlotte STEM High School (in planning), Edgecombe Early College High School, Durham's Southern School of Engineering, Tri-County Early College High School in Cherokee County and Wake NC State University STEM Early College High School.
Media Archive
Press Releases
Go- Alternative Certification Program for STEM Teachers Wins State Approval
- Grants Support Network of Energy & Sustainability Schools
- Reynolds American Foundation donates $250,000 for new career academy aimed at promoting economic development in Yadkin Valley
- Donors step up to help NC secure $15 million federal grant
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