News Archives: Dual Credit Gives High School Students a Head Start
Friday, October 24th, 2014
A new partnership between Grande Prairie area schools and Grande Prairie Regional College will give interested students a head start on their post-secondary education. The Dual Credit program will allow a high school student to earn both high school and college credits for the same course, thus making progress toward a college program before finishing high school.
Superintendents of Grande Prairie Public School District, Grande Prairie Catholic Schools, and Peace Wapiti School Division signed the agreement today with Susan Bansgrove, Vice-President Academics and Research.
Selected GPRC courses are available for dual credit study, and taught by a College instructor with the involvement of the secondary school teacher. Currently, dual credit opportunities include courses in Office Administration, Business Administration, Arts & Science, and Early Learning and Childhood Development. All applications to participate in these opportunities are managed by the student’s high school.
“The new Dual Credit program offered by GPRC will provide increased programing flexibility for high school students at Peace Wapiti Public School Division,” says Superintendent Sheldon Rowe. “We are excited to partner with GPRC in providing our students with more options for future success, and we hope that post-secondary institutions will continue to expand their offerings to our students.”
“Today’s announcement opens new doors for students to explore as they continue on in their education and career journey,” says Carol Ann Macdonald, Superintendent of Grande Prairie Public School District. “Providing students with the ability to earn post-secondary credits while they are still attending high school, is a wonderful opportunity for students in our District.”
“As a Superintendent, I am pleased that GPRC is taking steps to blur the line between high school and post-secondary so more students find their passion and succeed in school in a variety of ways,” says Karl Germann, who is Superintendent of Grande Prairie & District Catholic Schools, and President of the College of Alberta School Superintendents. “The Provincial Dual Credit Strategy contributes to, and aligns with, the Premier’s mandate and creates more opportunities for students to earn credits in high school and post-secondary institutions at the same time, as well as opportunities for preferred placement (when post-secondary institutions exempt students from a course) and workplace certification,” Germann says. “Speaking as the CASS President, we believe the Dual Credit strategy hold great promise for all Alberta students.”
“We are very pleased to be entering into this partnership with the schools to enhance opportunities for the students of our region,” says Bansgrove. “The research indicates a number of benefits for students in dual credit programs, including better attendance, engagement and achievement as well as career and life goal-setting.”
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