Twelve high schools statewide, including two on Kauai, have been selected to participate in the Early College High School Program, an initiative designed to allow more high school students to earn six or more college credits before they graduate. Over
Twelve high schools statewide, including two on Kauai, have been selected to participate in the Early College High School Program, an initiative designed to allow more high school students to earn six or more college credits before they graduate.
Over the next three years, Hawaii P-20 Partnerships for Education, with the support of the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation and GEAR UP Hawaii, will invest more than $1.2 million to fund tuition and expenses and provide technical assistance to selected high schools working in partnership with University of Hawaii campuses, to provide high school-based early college courses.
The Early College High School Program is part of an effort to bring an early college high school model successful in other states, where students have the option of earning both an associate’s degree and a high school diploma by their high school graduation, to Hawaii. The program could serve up to 3,200 students statewide.
The selected schools on Kauai include Kapaa and Kauai high schools.
Schools will start offering early college courses for the program beginning in spring 2015.
“This partnership is more than just preparing students for higher education,” said Hawaii Department of Education Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi. “This provides the extra push needed for students to reach their goals in life. The impact that this program can make is incredibly meaningful.”
