The Lapeer County Intermediate School District (LCISD) and St. Clair County Community College (SC4) announced a creative new partnership on
Wednesday, April 28, 2004. The unique learning opportunity will allow youth and adult education students in five districts served by Lapeer County, including surrounding areas such as Capac and Yale, to receive college credit for developmental courses at SC4.
Details of the articulation agreement and the intense academic and career training program are provided in the news release issued by LCISD. (below)
Lapeer County Intermediate School District
For Immediate Release
Contact: Michelle Irwin
Phone: 810-667-6647
Email: mirwin@lcisd.k12.mi.us
Lapeer County ISD and St. Clair County Community College Create New Partnership To Improve Academic Achievement
The Lapeer County Intermediate School District (LCISD) and St. Clair County, Community College (SC4) created a unique learning opportunity not previously offered in the state of Michigan. Students enrolled in LCISD sponsored programs related to literacy development, adult/alternative educational programming and remediation now have the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned towards core curriculum college credits. “We have articulated many of our career and technical programs with various colleges, universities and trade schools, however this will be our first time articulating core academic programming for core academic credit at the college level,” states Michelle Irwin, LCISD adult and community relations manager.
Recent research indicates that up to 30% or more of entering college students require remedial services in at least one core academic subject area or more (Education Week, 2002). Likewise, educators have determined that successful lifelong learning is more likely to occur when there is a direct link between the K-12 environment and post-secondary educational offerings. “We believed that we could better serve students and help them achieve their academic goals by creating this seamless educational environment through this cooperative endeavor,” states Bill Kenner, education professor and youth enhanced studies designer and instructor for SC4. “The LCISD was looking for additional ways to keep students progressing towards their academic and career goals, looking for a variety of incentives and creative programming ideas to support our students best,” Irwin says. “Since both SC4 and LCISD were offering similar programs as well as complimentary academic paths, articulating the K-12 curriculum with the college program was the natural fit.”
The Lapeer ISD re-created a new curriculum designed for youth and adult education High School Diploma, GED Preparation, College and Career Readiness programming to prepare and harness the skills of many of the at risk students and HS dropouts in the five districts served by Lapeer county, including surrounding areas such as Capac and Yale. The new plan will improve upon former preparation programming by utilizing a variety of strategies including classroom instruction, mastery level based computer training, and portfolio development. Assessment for success will be determined through the use of the ACT WorkKeys Career Readiness assessment, a nationally normed and recognized employability gage, the ACT COMPASS examination or equivalent and the development of a comprehensive career portfolio and the GED exam or equivalent. Students successfully completing the requirements will receive up to several credentials including their High School Diploma, GED, Michigan Career Readiness Certificate (upon state approval), and a College Readiness Certificate. Participants must pass a regiment of standardized assessments in math, English grammar, reading, writing, social studies, science, locating information, and teamwork and obtain the required minimum score for both the GED and the Work Keys Assessment.
The articulation agreement allows students to “test-out” of certain classes at no additional cost. To accomplish this, students take the college admission tool COMPASS, which assesses the individual’s competency in reading, writing, and mathematics. If students achieve an entry level for standard college English, math, and reading, they will be allowed to articulate those scores with the accompanying completion of the Lapeer ISD program to receive up to nine college credits for the developmental courses at SC4 in reading, writing and mathematics.
Students may earn an additional two credits by completing a workforce portfolio utilizing the Michigan Workforce Development standards including training in resume writing, cover letters, interviewing, teamwork skills, leadership skills, locating information, career exploration, self-esteem building, personality assessments and career discovery as well as their Work Keys Certificate for Career Readiness.
“The participants of the program will be involved in a very intense academic and career training program. Instruction will include more than 200 hours of classroom training and many computer enhanced opportunities for training,” states Kenner. “The development of the program has met the rigorous standards as set forth by both the Lapeer County ISD and the SC4 curriculum development departments.”
States Superintendent of the Lapeer County ISD, Peter M. Holley, “This is a step in the direction that both of our educational institutions have long been striving for. We believe that this option is concerned with what is best for the students and residents of the Thumb Area.”
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