An interesting article from the Chicago Tribune by Dahleen Glanton highlights a new approach for engaging struggling high schoolers - send them to college!
Actually, the way the program works is students who are targeted for improvement are enrolled in dual programs; their normal high school program and a college track focusing upon their career interests.
Take Mathew Basden for example. He is now avoiding gangs and other distractions to focus on his his career goal - opening a restaurant. He thinks he would have dropped out without the program.
Jequetta Williams was getting straight F's before enrolling in such a program. "I wasn't focused on school," she said. Now she is earning A's and B's.
The Chicago Public School district has developed a program in coordination with DeVry University call DeVry University Advantage Academy High School. Students in this program graduate with a high school diploma and an Associate's computer degree from DeVry. Perhaps, best of all 90% went on to four year colleges and the other 10% entered the workforce in the area they had specialized in. Talk about job ready!
Did you notice how many times the word Focus was used above?
I think this type of program is helping kids focus on their goals. When the realization of their goals is within reach, they seem able to focus on the important thing - building their future.
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