TodayBig Spring School District's ‘extra credit’ program lacking state support
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Article RatingA presentation before the Big Spring School Board Monday night indicated that the high school’s popular dual-enrollment program could need a boost in the future.
The program allows students to take classes sanctioned by Harrisburg Area Community College to earn both high school and college credit.
Because the college credit would be for general education requirements, most schools would be willing to accept them, including Shippensburg University, said district Superintendent Rich Fry.
Dual enrollment is aimed at non-traditional students, or those who would be less likely to go to college without extra help.
Tuition and books are paid through a state grant, which Gov. Ed Rendell announced in July. About 370 school districts received a total of $10 million in grant money.
By taking college-level courses early, students have a better idea of what to expect in college and won’t fall victim to discouragement from a bad first semester, said Deborah Whitmoyer, who teaches the classes.
“The students took the first test and they were pretty disappointed in themselves,” she said.
The board appeared slightly concerned when Whitmoyer said the program seemed to be taking students away from Advanced Placement courses. Board member Richard Norris said he is worried that it could be a permanent problem.
“In AP, you might have a student who does well in the class and then comes back with a 3,” he said, describing a mediocre score on the five-point scale.
Not all colleges would accept such a score in lieu of a class. However, dual enrollment is less expensive than an AP class, which does not receive state funding.
But Whitmoyer disagreed with Norris, saying that other schools did not see that effect and that she doubted it will last.
Despite dual enrollment’s popularity, however, it may need to turn to the district in the future in order to survive.
“The state is really not holding up their part of the financial side of this,” Fry said.
Members informally agreed the program is worth keeping and that they would consider funding it out of the district’s budget if needed in the future.
