Students at Tulalip Heritage High School, a predominantly American Indian high school in Tulalip, are expected to get new opportunities to earn college credits without leaving campus under a recently approved congressional spending bill.
“They get the idea that college is a real possibility, which puts them a step ahead,” said Stu Barger, vice president of instruction at Everett Community College, which will oversee the $600,000 grant.
The money for the Early College High School program was included at the urging of U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., in the 2005 omnibus appropriations bill recently approved by Congress.
“Economic opportunities for our future work force are directly related to the education they are getting now,” Larsen said. “The Early College High School program gives our kids a stronger education now to prepare them better for college and improve their career horizons.”
The money will be divided among EvCC, Skagit Valley Community College in Mount Vernon and Whatcom Community College in Bellingham, along with three high schools. The program starts in the fall. Tulalip Heritage High School, with an enrollment of 60, will receive about $110,000, and EvCC will receive about $50,000.
Heritage will use the money to develop and redesign courses so they are more relevant to Indian students, while still meeting state standards. It also will be used to train teachers how to instruct college-level classes at the high school.
Heritage also will emphasize basic reading, writing and math skills, and provide more tutoring, longer days or summer programs.
“It’s very broad on the opportunities that we are going to be able to deliver to our students,” said Marnee Ande, who leads the Heritage program.
The program is a little different than others such as Running Start, which provides college credits for students still in high school.
“We are targeting students who have not necessarily thought they would go to college,” Ande said.
About three-quarters of Heritage students earn college credits now, ranging from four to 14 credits. Many are enrolled in a college-level art class, and some last spring got their feet wet with a college-level canoe fitness course.
“This money will really make it possible to sustain the effort in a way that we just weren’t sure how it was going to happen before,” said Carla Shafer, EvCC’s grants writer
“Both groups will have to work with the tribes to get a curriculum inclusive of Native American history and culture, and as much as possible specific to the Tulalip people in our area,” she said.
EvCC will spend its share developing the curriculum for Heritage High School.
EvCC President Charlie Earl said it will be up to the college to certify that the classes are college level.
Meanwhile, the federal grant also included $60,000 for EvCC’s Ocean Research College Academy, which offers college-level courses to high school juniors and seniors. Started with a $210,000 Bill &Melinda Gates Foundation grant, it emphasizes marine sciences.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
