Expand Early College Program

Action Outcome

Increase the number of high school students that earn college credits during high school with the Early College Alliance^SM; develop skilled workers in key growth areas like science, technology, mathematics and medicine.

Status

Participating school districts include Milan, Lincoln, Whitmore Lake, Ypsilanti and Chelsea.
Currently 260 students enrolled in the program.
Goal is to enroll 150 new students each fall in the ECA program (beginning in the fall of 2011) to reach a maximum of 400-500 students per year enrolled in the program.
Grant funding from the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation was awarded and there is a detailed action plan with milestones.

Action Champions

Eastern Michigan University
Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation
Washtenaw Intermediate School District
University of Michigan College of Engineering
St. Joseph Mercy Health System
University of Michigan Health System
Ypsilanti Chamber of Commerce
Michigan Works!
Ypsilanti, Milan, Lincoln Consolidated and Whitmore Lake School Districts

Action Manager

David Dugger, ECA Director

For information contact David Dugger at
dugger.eca@gmail.com, or visit www.earlycollegealliance.org/.

Action Description

Innovative education programs such as the Early College Alliance^SM (ECA) @ Eastern Michigan University (EMU), where public school students can earn up to sixty college credits during high school, can increase attainment and skill development of our youth. These programs can also provide skilled workers in key growth areas like science, technology, mathematics and medicine. ECA students currently have the opportunity to attend Eastern Michigan University to prepare themselves for careers in high-demand occupations. With the first two years of college provided at no cost to the student or parent, a key to expanding these programs across the county is the ability of students to fund their third and fourth years of college.

The ECA @ EMU is one of only nine early college programs in the state. It was created in 2007 to expand college credit earning opportunities for all high school students, beginning with students in Eastern Washtenaw County. The ECA @ EMU is available to all high school students with thirty percent (30%) of the available slots reserved for students from low socio-economic status (SES) households.

To expand the early college program, the School District of Ypsilanti is considering establishing a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) middle school strand of the Early College Alliance^SM to prepare more Ypsilanti students for the early college option.

Action Outcomes

Create a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) strand of the ECA @ EMU.
Create an ECA Occupational Studies strand with Washtenaw Community College (WCC) that will provide high school students greater occupational education options while attending high school.
Create an ECA Arts and Culture strand to support the Washtenaw county arts and culture initiatives, as well as meeting the needs of high school students interested in the arts.
Expand dual enrollment options under the auspices of the ECA for all high school students across the county.
Enroll 150 new students each fall in the ECA program (beginning in the fall of 2011) to reach a maximum of 400-500 students per year enrolled in the STEM ECA program. Students from other public school districts in addition to those from Ypsilanti Schools, who attend the ECA, will directly participate in the expanded programs.

Sections

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