Dropouts opt in for new Fall River program
An ambitious new program to motivate high school dropouts or youth who are at-risk for leaving high school early will begin this spring in Fall River.
Gateway to College is an initiative of Bristol Community College and the Fall River Fire Department. Poster printing to advertise the program is in full swing with posters placed in recreational facilities, local schools and churches. The premise of the program is to enable teens to simultaneously earn their high school diplomas while earning college credits.
Approximately 24 students between the ages of 16 and 21 will have the opportunity to return to school in a new environment, free of previous issues and baggage and free charge, funded by a $300,000 grant from the State. The first cohort of students will be screened and interviewed to determine their level of commitment to the program.
said Erik Baumann, a director with Bristol Community College.
Students who will be considered must take a placement exam and achieve standards equivalent to eighth grade.
Scheduled to begin in the spring, students in the Gateway to College program will take classes together in the first semester with support classes available to students who have not been in school for some time.
The high school dropout rate exceeds the state average of 2.9 per cent at 4.9 per cent. That means only two of every three students finish all four years of high school.
Gateway to College is an initiative of Bristol Community College and the Fall River Fire Department. Poster printing to advertise the program is in full swing with posters placed in recreational facilities, local schools and churches. The premise of the program is to enable teens to simultaneously earn their high school diplomas while earning college credits.
Approximately 24 students between the ages of 16 and 21 will have the opportunity to return to school in a new environment, free of previous issues and baggage and free charge, funded by a $300,000 grant from the State. The first cohort of students will be screened and interviewed to determine their level of commitment to the program.
“This is really a second chance for a lot of students, and a way to start fresh,”
said Erik Baumann, a director with Bristol Community College.
Students who will be considered must take a placement exam and achieve standards equivalent to eighth grade.
Scheduled to begin in the spring, students in the Gateway to College program will take classes together in the first semester with support classes available to students who have not been in school for some time.
The high school dropout rate exceeds the state average of 2.9 per cent at 4.9 per cent. That means only two of every three students finish all four years of high school.