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can’t come
early enough
We are pleased and optimistic about Whiteville City Schools’ plan to create an early college high school with Southeastern Community College. Dramatic new approaches to make education meaningful and more relevant are long overdue.
The school would take select freshmen, help them focus on a practical course of study and mix them with college students. Seniors would leave with both a high school diploma and an associate’s degree. In exchange, they would have longer days and fewer opportunities for electives and extracurricular activities, such as sports or band.
Brunswick County is already staffing its program. The state Department of Public Instruction has yet to announce whether it will fund Whiteville’s proposal.
Clearly, state officials need to move quickly. It will be a challenge to start a new school that is supposed to welcome its first class in just six months.
We would suggest that education leaders not wait for “Raleigh” to continue serious planning. If the early college high school is a good idea, start running with it now and the state will eventually catch up.
Apprenticeships, on-the-job-training and mentors are considered keys for the new school. Educators could start recruiting them now with one-on-one conversations and perhaps a more formal public forum. The schools could also hire at least one administrator to marshal efforts so there won’t be so much catching up to do when the state money finally arrives.
The early college high school is a step in the right direction. We’d hate to see the plan stumble because “Raleigh” dragged its feet.