Kansas City Kansas Community College and Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools are working together to create more higher education opportunities to students in Wyandotte County, according to an announcement today.
KCKCC and KCKPS signed a Memorandum of Understanding during a special joint meeting Dec. 18, paving the way for a Concurrent – Dual Enrollment Partnership. The MOU outlines the guidelines and requirements for the program, which will be available to all high school students in the school district who wish to take college-level courses. These courses, unless specified, are at no cost to students of the school district.
“In Kansas, by 2020, 72 percent of all careers will require more than a high school diploma,” said Dr. Cynthia Lane, superintendent of Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools. “That’s why Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools has transformed learning from what many of us know as ‘traditional’ schools to Diploma+ learning. That is why in order for us to continue the successful work of this initiative, we need partnerships like the one we have with Kansas City Kansas Community College. This new agreement will give our students the proper tools they need to continue to thrive academically and become successful adults in the workplace.”
Concurrent Enrollment Courses are those taught at the high schools during the normal school day by approved instructors. These courses will be for college credit, according to the agreement. Dual Enrollment Courses are classes offered at the high school or college campus and may be taught by a qualified high school teacher or college professor.
“Kansas City Kansas Community College is excited about the partnership agreement with KCKPS that creates tremendous opportunities for its students to earn college credit and technical certificates while still in high school,” KCKCC President Dr. Jacqueline Vietti said. “KCKPS’s Diploma+ goal is a shared one for the college, because when its students succeed, so does KCKCC. We are honored to be part of this milestone and look forward to future partnership initiatives that ultimately benefit the communities we collectively serve.”
Diploma+ begins in preschool building a strong foundation in academic and social emotional skills. Continuing through elementary and middle school, the program relies on project-based, hands-on learning as well as career exploration and visits to various industries and college campuses.
In high school, students choose from a variety of different Diploma+ Academies that focus on specific career interests, providing students with a number of real-world experiences. The goal is for every student in KCKPS to graduate with a high school diploma and at least one of the following Diploma+ endorsements:
• Completion of at least one full year of college (18-30 hours)
• Completion of an Industry-Recognized Certificate or Credential
• At least a 21 on the ACT or 1060 on the SAT
• Completion of the IB Diploma Programme or Career-Related Programme
• Acceptance into the Military
• Completion of a Qualified Internship or Industry-Approved Project
• An Approved Plan for Post-Secondary Transition
KCKPS students can complete one or more of the endorsements at no cost to them or their families. More information is at kckps.org/diplomaplus.
– Story from Kansas City Kansas Community College and Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools