FREE College is NOT a Fairy-tale: Here’s How High Schoolers Can Make Their Own Magic…
Oakland Schools recognizes that there are multiple paths to a student’s career success after high school, but the paths with great pay and job security ALL have post-secondary education in common.
So, instead of turning seniors loose with “goodbye and good luck!”, Oakland Schools created two Early College paths in partnership with Oakland Community College (OCC). The two paths-to-college serve two different groups of students, but the end result is the same:
A NO COST associate degree from OCC for eligible, motivated high-school students, offering opportunities for a successful future!
What are the programs that make this free college-path magic happen? They are known by their acronyms, ACE and OTEC…
1) Oakland Accelerated College Experience (ACE) is an early college program for students in participating Oakland County districts. The program is designed for those facing challenges (economically, or as a first generation college attendee) to college enrollment and completion. Oakland ACE offers students the opportunity to earn an associate degree, or up to 60 transferable credits, while still in high school. The details:
A key piece of ACE’s success is the program’s built-in support seminar and instructor guidance that help brand-new college students navigate the logistical and emotional demands of higher education.
2) Oakland Technical Early College (OTEC) offers Early College opportunities in conjunction with their Oakland Schools Technical Campus (OSTC) high school programs. Students begin in 11th grade by attending their home high school for one-half of the school day, and Oakland Schools Technical Campus high school for the other half. College classes (in alignment with the student’s OSTC technical program) are added to the mix; students attend OCC full-time during an added 13th year — earning both their high school diploma and an associate degree concurrently! The details:
OTEC was designed to provide students with a highly-skilled, competitive career advantage in Michigan’s high-demand job market, so the current available early college programs focus on Collision; Mechatronics; Welding; Machining; and Emergency Medical Services or Fire Fighter Technology.
Oakland Schools and OCC are helping students reach for dreams they didn’t think possible, due to lack of guidance, opportunity or economics.
The monetary magic? BOTH Oakland ACE and OTEC early college programs save participating students nearly $10,000 in college tuition, books and lab fees. Graduates with an OCC associate degree are poised to transfer their credits to a four-year university, or take their advanced technical training into a high-paying career field.
The student support magic? Priceless. And vital. As one OTEC applicant said:
“I want to be a part of the Oakland Technical Early College program because I want to be a successful adult. I want to be able to afford a car and a house. I want to be able to support a family. I also want to have an early jump start in college; and I know this program will give me the support I need to accomplish this goal. I struggle somewhat in academics and I believe the early college program will give me the support, knowledge, and experience to succeed. I think without this program my goals may be in jeopardy.” ~~~
Questions? Contact:
Oakland ACE: JIM TROOST, Oakland Schools, 248.209.2396, James.Troost@oakland.k12.mi.us
Oakland Technical Early College (OTEC): BEN MORIN, Oakland Schools, 248.209.2584, Ben.Morin@oakland.k12.mi.us
