Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Education notebook: Dual enrollment could lead to degree
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An agreement between Roanoke County Public Schools and Virginia Western Community College will help some students earn an associate degree while still in high school.
Cecil Snead, the division's director of instruction, said dual enrollment courses have been offered for a while, but recently school and college officials began to examine the number of credits offered and discovered the feasibility of offering a degree.
"A student can start in junior year and ... by the end of senior year have a 62-credit general studies associate of sciences degree," he said.
All but four courses are offered on the campuses of the county's five high schools. Students can take public speaking, health, college survival skills and introduction to computer applications on the college's campus or online.
School board Chairman Drew Barrineau sang the praises of the college-level curriculum, which he said is especially affordable in today's economy. Students get a break in the cost of the courses because certified Roanoke County instructors teach the dual enrollment classes. The county also provides the books -- a huge savings for parents.
"It is conceivable that a student may only spend about $3,000 for this associate's degree," Snead said.
The savings also are significant compared with just one year of tuition at a four-year college. The College Board last year estimated tuition at a public college cost $6,585 and $25,143 at a private college.
It is unclear how many students are seeking an associate degree because some may be taking just a few courses. Technically the Class of 2011 may be the first to graduate double-diploma earners.
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The statewide child poverty rate reached the highest point since 2000, according to census data presented by Voices for Virginia's Children.
The organization's director said the effect of the recession caused an increase from 13 percent to 13.8 percent in the child poverty rate in 2008. That means an additional 13,000 children live below the poverty line. Voices' Director John Morgan said he will encourage state and local officials not to scrap services for impoverished children to balance budgets.
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Joanna Bayliss, one of five Class of 2009 graduates from Faith Christian School in Roanoke County, earned an Advanced Placement program scholar award for her achievement on AP exams.
The College Board said about 18 percent of the 1.6 million annual test-takers earn the performance-based award.
