06-21-2018, 07:06 AM
(06-20-2018, 09:39 PM)miah Wrote:(06-20-2018, 09:14 PM)dfrecore Wrote:(06-20-2018, 09:00 PM)miah Wrote: It's not for me. It's more of an information gathering for parents of teens that are struggling in traditional HS programs. For example, our state has a 24 college cr GenED diploma that can be substituted for a traditiona HS diploma.
But I'm interested in finding out what other programs exist out there for students that might otherwise "drop out" of HS altogether.
I know of so many students that just struggle in traditional HS. So I'm just trying to research alternatives out there.
Plus, I'm studying HigherEdStudentAffairs and would like to be able to advise students of ALL the options they have to earn a college degree!
From what I see, HS today isn't productive for most college bound students. And for students that struggle in HS, they may otherwise drop out. So having knowledge of alternatives to share with other parents is extremely useful.
Unfortunately, I've been jaded from my experiences with our local middle and high schools and how they've perpetuated generational poverty and illiteracy and innumeracy. They know the student population they have attending, yet they are not doing anything substantial to close the gaps with these kids. And in our case, they refused to provide what was needed (yet it was what they provide to some of the students, but repeatedly refused provide to my foster kids.) Hence we were pushed out to the private sector, yet it was the best thing in the long run, as it resulted in closing gaps and proper instructional methods. And one blew them all out of the water on the level of academic success that the student obtained (no thanks to the public school system.) Thank goodness for local volunteer OrtonGillingham tutors (at a not for profit group using Alphabetic Phonics and a volunteer foster/adopt Mom who tutored using Wilson Reading 2 years twice a week for an hour and then an hour travel time both days each way- so huge commitment but so worth it in the end!) Kiddo graduated as Jr a year ahead of cohort class with 33 college credits. And then earned an associate degree at 17 the following Spring a month before cohort class graduated from HS, and is working on finishing up a bachelor degree now by 20 after a couple rocky semesters mixed in, but seems back on track again finally! So I'm all for alternatives to the traditional b&m f2f classrooms of the last Century! Current public education seems outdated and inefficient. When so many kids graduate or drop out without having learned how to read and write proficiently nor proficient in foundational math skills, I don't see the value in the end product. It definitely doesn't pass a cost benefit analysis in my neck of the country. The money our state pays every year in education tends to be in the top slots for per student spending, so its not a lack of money being thrown at education that is the issue in this state!
This is not the program you're looking for. It's for people who already have at least 12cr of college - so not for the normal HS dropout, or kid who's looking for an alternative to HS.
But it's still an option for people once they get to 12 college credits! And that is only 3-4 classes. I'm looking for alternatives! So this is an option after they have completed 3-4 classes.
The degree is for high school graduates who graduated two or more years ago AND have 12 graded college credits earned at a regionally accredited college. If they meet that requirement, then the advantage of choosing the degree is that they don't require specific courses, rather courses can come from categories. The category "Math and Sciences" doesn't stipulate the specific math and science courses, so students can choose. But the majority of people doing this degree have the entire degree completed before they apply- meaning they have well over 60 credits and haven't been able to use them anywhere. They may be in progress toward a bachelors, and can pick this up on the way, or this may be a way to consolidate a lot of patchwork credit.
As someone who also works with teens, this isn't a good fit for a lot of reasons, but mainly because few will qualify. For their parents? Great opportunity.