Students in select high schools across the nation can take a board exam as early as their sophmore year. If they pass, they can graduate early and enroll in a community college. Students that want to remain in high school can use the program to supplement their education by enrolling in college classes while in high school boosting their future chances of enrolling in the University of their choice.

Countries like Singapore and Denmark have had this program in effect for years and it has been successful. This program will address the failure rate experienced by new college students...giving them a head start on their higher education.

What are your thoughts regarding this pilot program? I enrolled in college while I was a senior. The advantage of taking classes early is I got several prerequistes out of the way. The down side is my social life my last year in high school suffered. I didn't think about that at the time.
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Geez that's such a tough call. I mean sometimes one shouldn't even bother with the options of people you have to hang out with. Yet, having a life and knowing how to balance it with one's professional goals is something I consider too important to ignore.

I guess if the option is there then the kids who can handle it or want to handle it will take it on and handle it.

And, if a parent is savvy enough they'll know how to get their child to relax a bit. Hec, even MAKE them go to prom and not come back until sun up

C

I was having a conversation with a friend recently, who told me that now many guidance councilors are suggesting that College Freshmen take core courses at a local community college and then transfer to a University. It seems they have finally realized that the first year away at college is usually wasted by the students who are making many unwise social decisions (focusing more on new freedoms than classes) at the same time they are embarking on a new school and new expectations. Many may go from a classroom size of 20 to one which fills an auditorium. This is becoming a logical transition for many students both mentally and also financially. It can be very beneficial for many of them to be living at home and still have some guidance from their parents when making the change from High School to College.

I think being able to take some college courses is a good thing to help a smooth transition between the two schools, and to help get those students into the right mindset to continue on.

I'm for it. Especially the part about remaining in high school and taking college classes. It plays to my idea of a public college that would be a lot like public high school. Students should be able to earn at least an associates degree at a public college where the cost and class size is similar to getting a diploma from a public high school. Graduating high school at the end of sophomore year would give a kid the two years that would be their junior and senior year to earn an associates.

Even though this plan isn't that plan, a head start on college can't hurt. One reason some students give for not going to college is that they're tired of school. If they can do two years of college from age 16-18 and then two more years after being all the way out of high school, that's sort of like getting a four year degree in two years.

I also was able to take a few college courses while a junior and senior in high school. The board exam wasn't an option for me at that time, but I was encouraged to enroll in college-level calculus and physics courses during the last year of high school.

I didn't have to attend at night; I was given permission to drive there and back during a long block of "study-hall" free time that was arranged for me by the school principal. Seeing as how the study-halls weren't really a social opportunity at my high school, attending those classes didn't impact my social life much.

I think this program is a terrific idea, offering advanced opportunity for those who can handle it, and spotlighting areas of deficiency before students reach college and are shocked to discover they need remedial courses in math, and even in English.

Based on my own experiences, I think this is stimulus money well-spent.