Officials with the Van Buren School District, University of Arkansas at Fort Smith and Arkansas Tech University say futures are bright for students graduating from Van Buren High School because new partnerships will allow students to earn degrees and technical certifications while they are still in high school.

With new programs being implemented beginning fall 2016, higher education will be within reach for all students interested.
"This will do good things for not only our school, but our state," said Principal Eddie Tipton, Van Buren High School.

Nancy Robbins, director of curriculum and federal programs for the Van Buren School District, sees another aspect to the new programs.

"I am excited that we are offering more choice for students and their families because one size doesn't fit all," she said. "And I do think the American public values choice, and I think it makes schools more responsive to students' needs. Students have a large variety of needs, and we are looking at how to branch out and do a variety of different services for our students."

Several classes known as concurrent courses have been added to those already offered within the Van Buren School District's curriculum, and degree programs through ATU and UAFS will be offered.
Concurrent credit means students will earn high school and college credit at the same time. The courses will be offered to sophomores, juniors and seniors. AP courses still will be offered.

Robbins said that students are taking advantage of the concurrent courses offered. In 2015, at least 100 students graduated from VBHS with earned college credit, and after graduation, went to various schools across the nation.

"Our demographics show that we are over 59 percent in free and reduced (lunches), and we have a lot of those students take concurrent classes, and I believe it's one of those things in which we are giving them almost an entire year of college, and they feel confident enough to go on (to a post-secondary school). This helps the students who normally wouldn't go on (to a post-secondary school) achieve and want to achieve," Tipton said.

For students to take concurrent credit, they must have at least a 19 on the ACT exam, but they don't have to be in the honors program.

"This means if a student wanted to begin doing at least one concurrent credit during their freshmen year, they would have to take the ACT in the summer before ninth grade or during their eighth grade year... . We have been offering a number of concurrent credit courses for a number of years, since about 2005, but they've grown and expanded, as we've added more classes to be offered," Robbins said.

General education courses such as health, survey of chemistry, English, college algebra and other standard college requirements will continue to be offered, and will offer to students the background, knowledge and academic preparations necessary to pursue career opportunities.
Those teaching accredited classes are required to have earned an advanced degree, like a master's degree, Tipton said.

He added, "We have teachers here who are qualified to teach at college. They're certified by ATU because they all have their master's degrees in the content area, and are qualified to teach these courses. It's nice to have teachers who have a master's and are qualified to do that because it gives a lot of opportunities, and opens a lot of doors for our students."

Photo Credits: Kate Jordan