Written by Dr. Anthony O. Parker
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE READY TO EARN TWO YEARS OF COLLEGE CREDITS AT NO DIRECT COST.
The state of Georgia has provided its young citizens an excellent opportunity to succeed early. In my opinion, the most forward-thinking educational initiative was high school dual enrollment. When high school students demonstrate that they are ready, they can move on to preparing for a well-paying job. They can also earn enough credits to receive an associate degree while in high school. Every high school student in Georgia is eligible.
In most cases, high school students can reduce the time to earn a BS degree by one or two years. Approximately one year of collegiate-level career education is paid for by dual enrollment. High school students from low and moderate-income families in Albany Tech's service area can receive an additional year of a college education at no cost. There is no application fee or textbook cost. In short, "dual enrollment" and available grant opportunities can reduce the cost of a BS degree by 50 percent and cut the time in half that a high school graduate requires to earn a BS degree.
Two of my children dual enrolled while in high school and benefitted. Over 100 high school students have earned an associate of applied science degree at Albany Technical College. Since we have implemented dual enrollment, we’ve seen over 400 students earn diplomas and certificates. Here are just a few examples of those that have taken advantage of the opportunity.
I've also included the universities that offer Albany Tech graduates opportunities to transfer. Included are the Albany Tech programs that are accepted at each university.
To paraphrase Martin Luther King Jr., "The moral arc of the university bends toward affluence, only if you become educated." Every high school student is ready to earn a two-year degree.
