Amid a national discussion on increasing student loan debt, a new partnership between Montezuma-Cortez High School and Southwest Colorado Community College aims to allow eligible students earn an associate’s degree free of charge while completing their high school curriculum.
M-CHS officials explained to a crowd of interested parents at a March 5 meeting that students can choose from two associate’s tracks: arts and general studies.
The 60-credit hour general studies track is geared toward students interested in a vocational career path like welding, EMT or cosmetology. The 60-credit hour associate of arts program is geared toward students interested in transferring their degrees to a four-year university.
Seven M-CHS teachers are certified to teach college courses, and Ed Rice, director of career and technical education, said the school was working on getting more certified to teach college courses during the 2015-2016 school year.
“Front Range schools have been doing this for a while. We’ve been offering college courses for high school students for a number of years, but because of new opportunities for funding, we are doing it for relatively nothing,” said Rice.
The courses are paid for through Colorado Opportunity Funds, which are set aside for every graduating senior by the state to go toward their post-secondary tuition. For every credit hour enrolled, COF pays $75.
The new SCCC partnership stipulates that students must get a C or better in the course or parents have to reimburse M-CHS for the failed course’s tuition.
“It may not be for everybody ... our goal isn’t to get every student from M-CHS to graduate with an associate’s degree. My goal is for every student to take at least one (college-level) class,” said Rice.
Cindy Ryan, M-CHS post-secondary career counselor, stressed that the program isn’t an “all or nothing” option, and students can take as many courses as they’re interested in and comfortable with.
To be eligible, students have to be ready for college algebra by their sophomore year, and must score well on either their ACT or Accuplacer exam.
M-CHS is starting the screening process for students this spring, and will be sending out more information to parents in coming weeks.