A new city program that will allow high school juniors and seniors to enroll in college courses will begin this summer, school officials said Thursday during a news conference to unveil the plan.
I have goose bumps, I'm so excited about this," said Paul Vallas, the interim superintendent of Bridgeport Public Schools.Juniors can start taking courses this summer at Sacred Heart University through the Early College Program, he said. Housatonic Community College, Fairfield University and the University of Bridgeport will also open their courses to eligible students.The goal is to connect students to local colleges, Vallas said.
Eligible students include juniors and seniors in good standing who have a C average or above and can pass the Accuplacer test, a college placement examination, Vallas said. About 165 juniors will take the Accuplacer test in a few weeks, he said.Students will take the placement test during their junior year; those who fail the test will be placed in remedial courses to prepare them for higher education so they do not have to take them after they have graduated from high school, Vallas said. About 74 percent of the city's high school graduates who attend Housatonic have to take remedial courses once they enroll, he said.We want to change that dynamic," he said.
With 54 percent of the district's students graduating from high school, Sandra Kase, the district's chief administrative officer, said she hopes the Early College Program will create more college-ready students. "It (the program) is really going to put Bridgeport on the map," she said.Anita Gliniecki, the president of Housatonic, said her school already has a relationship with the district and said she thinks the new partnership program will be fantastic.One of the challenges for high school students will be to realize their added responsibilities taking courses at a university.
Christine Siegel, the associate dean of Fairfield University's Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions, said she hopes students will have positive experiences on campus that will encourage them to continue pursuing college education.The school district will pay for students' courses, which won't cost more than the electives students currently take, Vallas said. He estimated that a course at Sacred Heart or Fairfield University would cost the district $600 per student. The district will also provide shuttles for students to get to their respective campuses, he said.Mayor Bill Finch said he knows the city's students can achieve as much as students in other districts, and that this program will give students similar opportunities.We know there is an urgent need for change here in the city of Bridgeport, Finch said.
I have goose bumps, I'm so excited about this," said Paul Vallas, the interim superintendent of Bridgeport Public Schools.Juniors can start taking courses this summer at Sacred Heart University through the Early College Program, he said. Housatonic Community College, Fairfield University and the University of Bridgeport will also open their courses to eligible students.The goal is to connect students to local colleges, Vallas said.
Eligible students include juniors and seniors in good standing who have a C average or above and can pass the Accuplacer test, a college placement examination, Vallas said. About 165 juniors will take the Accuplacer test in a few weeks, he said.Students will take the placement test during their junior year; those who fail the test will be placed in remedial courses to prepare them for higher education so they do not have to take them after they have graduated from high school, Vallas said. About 74 percent of the city's high school graduates who attend Housatonic have to take remedial courses once they enroll, he said.We want to change that dynamic," he said.
With 54 percent of the district's students graduating from high school, Sandra Kase, the district's chief administrative officer, said she hopes the Early College Program will create more college-ready students. "It (the program) is really going to put Bridgeport on the map," she said.Anita Gliniecki, the president of Housatonic, said her school already has a relationship with the district and said she thinks the new partnership program will be fantastic.One of the challenges for high school students will be to realize their added responsibilities taking courses at a university.
Christine Siegel, the associate dean of Fairfield University's Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions, said she hopes students will have positive experiences on campus that will encourage them to continue pursuing college education.The school district will pay for students' courses, which won't cost more than the electives students currently take, Vallas said. He estimated that a course at Sacred Heart or Fairfield University would cost the district $600 per student. The district will also provide shuttles for students to get to their respective campuses, he said.Mayor Bill Finch said he knows the city's students can achieve as much as students in other districts, and that this program will give students similar opportunities.We know there is an urgent need for change here in the city of Bridgeport, Finch said.
