Virginia Tech lauds school dual-enrollment option

 

Virginia Tech’s School of Education has chosen the Halifax County Public Schools to honor with one of nine awards for innovation. Halifax’s was one of 64 entries submitted from public schools and community colleges statewide.

Dr. Melanie Stanley shared information showing the growth in dual enrollment classes, which allow a student to receive both high school and college credit for the same class. Students may accumulate credits for college (thus saving expensive college tuition) and even earn an associate degree before high school graduation. The idea is also to help students develop a “career pathway” to better prepare them for either college or direct entry into the workforce. The high school offers 110 dual-enrollment classes in subjects as diverse as horse management, art history, biology, motorsports, masonry and calculus. New for 2008-09: culinary arts I and II, teacher cadet,

introduction to law and sports medicine.Last spring, 23 students earned an associate degree; this spring, 30

students are on track. Forty-seven teachers are adjunct community college faculty. The award comes with $500 for the program. The announcement, made at Monday night’s school board meeting, was dampened by news that Coordinator of Dual Enrollment Shawn Haws’ daughter was badly injured in an auto accident over the weekend, and he was not present to deliver the news.