Dive Brief:
- Louisiana's Ascension Parish school district has enrolled more than 183 students in a program that allows them to receive a high school diploma and an associate’s degree at the same time.
- The students, who will start classes in just over two weeks, will be able to enter college as juniors if they complete the program.
- The program launched in 2013 and enrolled 32 students its first year.
Dive Insight:
Ascension Parish’s program, known as the Early College Option, is a partnership with local River Parishes Community College and is one of just two such programs in the state. Similar initiatives have cropped up around the country as schools look to better prepare students for college and careers, and as community colleges reassess their role in the education ecosystem. A recent study also found that more American high schoolers are graduating with a college degree.
Two states, Oregon and Tennessee, have made community college free for eligible students, and other states are considering following their lead. President Barack Obama advocated for free community college for all in his 2015 State of the Union, though it’s still unclear if his proposal will go anywhere despite states beginning to take the initiative themselves.