Advocates--this is an information for those of you who have students in middle school and high school--or looking ahead to those days.
1.Your right to take advanced courses
2.Planning on Dual Enrollment? (first you...)
3.Smart tips your counselor never told you
4.Scholarship info (free)
5.Keep a running resume
6.Learning online takes learning online
7.Advanced Placement Incentive Program
1.YOUR RIGHT TO TAKE ADVANCED COURSES
The following is a quote from a letter mailed on August 31, 1999, to EVERY Local and Intermediate School District Superintendent in Michigan from Arthur E. Ellis, Michigan's Superintendent of Public Instruction: "Since 1991, high school students in Michigan have had the opportunity to dual enroll in college courses at Michigan post secondary institutions when
certain criteria are met. High school students need to be continually challenged in order to maintain their academic interests and such challenges must include rigorous academic pursuits. [gee, we could say that about elementary too] Providing a wider variety of options to students by
encouraging and enabling them to dual enroll assures new and exciting academic challenges." In other words, if your school does not provide the next more advanced class in the area you are pursuing or nothing in the way of sociology or psychology or the foreign language you want, you may research and arrange to take such a course in lieu of one of your high school scheduled hours. You are eligible for tuition and fee support which equals the percentage of the day that you were not in the high school (they pay the college directly).
This does require MUCH preparation during the SUMMER, because colleges and community colleges usually start BEFORE public schools. Every situation is different and so you must do the footwork if you want to dual enroll. Details can be found in the Michigan State School Aid Act No. 336, Public Acts of 1993 (Enrolled House Bill No. 5123)-- Dual Enrollment Legislation.
2. PLANNING ON DUAL ENROLLMENT?
Passing the MEAP High School Test is REQUIRED in the areas you want advanced work (although it's even better to pass the whole thing). Endorsement can be at ANY level (levels 1-3). Take it in the 10TH GRADE, so that you are ready when the time is right. Districts have the right to support you in dual enrollment even if you have missed the opportunity to take the MEAP (illness, just moving in state, etc. Dual enrollment is open to those who qualify in other states, i.e., the New York Regents exam, etc.)
Content areas for which there are no endorsements, such as philosophy, religion, psychology, sociology, or anthropology, should be treated the same as computer science or foreign languages [you need to have passed the MEAP and be enrolled in at least one of your school's high school courses].
3. SMART TIPS YOUR COUNSELOR NEVER TOLD YOU:
a. Copies of practice ACT and SAT I exams are in the counseling office of every high school. They change every year. You can PRACTICE them at home even in middle school--even those years you are not participating in Midwest Talent Search. Hopefully you DID participate though just to get the feel of real testing situations.
b. Practice the SAT I (better as part of Midwest Talent Search) BEFORE the 10th grade. Take the PSAT-NMSQUAT [a shortened version of the SAT I used for Nation Merit Scholar Qualifying Achievement Test]. Take this as a 10th grader and the again as an 11th grader. It is early in the fall. Check with counseling in September for the date given at your own high school.
Home-schoolers can call their local counseling office to sign up). Normally 11th graders take this. As a 10th grader you are getting great practice and they send you a letter with your results saying "congratulations", good job!
c. When you fill out an application (such as ACT or SAT I), they ask you what career or areas of studies you expect to pursue. NAME SOMETHING! It doesn't matter that you change your mind in Freshman year. If you do not name something ("I do not know") then they do not look at you as a serious student and therefore scholarships will just pass you by.
And so for scholarship opportunities, look seriously at the career options and try to narrow it down to what you MIGHT be interested in, or what your current high school course work indicates you would do well in. You don't have to be sure. You are bound to change your mind a couple of times--as well as changing your job at least 7 times after you graduate. Be flexible--that's life!
d. As a junior and senior, take BOTH the ACT and SAT I, unless you have predetermined the school you will definitely attend and that school only looks at one of the tests. All kinds of colleges and universities will mail you lots and lots of appealing brochures and even videos to entice you to go there.
4. SCHOLARSHIP NIFO:
FREE search for scholarships as well as other information on getting ready for college. Site is: www.salliemae.com and click on CASHE scholarship search. There is a link to the CASHE scholarship form...that should be one you can update later as things change...there's even scholarships for LEFT HANDED PEOPLE!!! Think also in terms of what organizations you or your immediate family are connected to. This application for scholarships is also a way to realize how you have to keep a running RESUME, and what to include. Yes, start that resume in middle school, if not sooner. Have fun!
5. KEEP A RUNNING RESUME ON THE COMPUTER FOR EACH CHILD.
See above for some information. Keep a complete one with ALL the clubs, groups, service
oriented activities, sports, arts connected, whatever. From this information you can duplicate and trim for specific purposes, i.e., pertinent information needed for a summer job at the local landscapers (they probably don't need to know your musical background).
6. LEARNING ONLINE TAKES LEARNING ONLINE--from WJR's Gary Baker
Say what? That's right...you may need to take a class in how to learn online. If online learning is the wave of the future, then you better get on the wave of the present. This is easier than
you think, but you will need to look at this... http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/10/cyber/education/06education.html
7. ADVANCED PLACEMENT INCENTIVE PROGRAM
Advanced Placement courses are college level curriculum courses offered at many high schools. Student may receive college credit by taking the AP exam usually in May. Low income students (students receiving free or reduced lunch) may now receive assistance in paying for the fees ($75) needed to take AP exams for the courses they are enrolled in. High Schools must
identify eligible students, notify them, and verify that they wish to take the AP exams and then complete the necessary forms. This is due to a Federal grant to pay a portion of the fee ($22) and the local districts are expected to forgo the $7.00 rebate. The College Board will receive the remaining cost ($46) from the grant received by the Michigan Department of Education.
For further information, please contact your high school, Marie Brucker, mailto:[email protected] or Mary Bailey Hengesh, MDE mailto:[email protected]