John Ketchum
It's no secret that there can be many roadblocks for students from low income areas who are trying to go to college.
Some don't have the money while others think it's just not possible.
Farewell high school is trying to change that with a newly launched Early College program.
Farewell High School's Early College program allows students to complete a high school diploma and an associates degree at the local Community College; all by taking 5 year of high school.
Under the program students earn their associates degree for free. There are similar programs in Clare, Flint, Saginaw and 12 other communities
The program is paid for with Full Time Equivalent funding, that's the state aid that schools normally receive. Although Farwell is at the lowest funding level, officials said they still have enough to pay for students' books and tuition for students.
That's because, they said, the five-year high school represents not a funding increase but a funding shift. Farwell teachers are trained to instruct college courses. And the money the school would normally use for high school classes they re-direct to the college courses instead.
Dee Yarger is the principle of Farwell High school, she said although there are other similar programs, Farewell's is distinct.
"There's not any out there that are exactly like ours. Our program sets them up right in the setting that they're comfortable with right in our farewell campus with teachers that are"
Lynette Leslie is the manager for the program. She said at first students didn't like the idea of staying in school for an extra year. But with support from the staff and the community they came to see it as a good thing.
"The feedback I'm getting at first they were a little apprehensive or hesitant now that the correct information is out there I know more and more students are coming to me they're getting really excited they pass me in the hallways and talk about it a lot. I go to their classrooms, if they're struggling I come to their classrooms and kick em in the butt a little bit.
Leslie says besides the positive feedback, the program is giving some students an avenue to realize their full potential.
"What we're also noticing is that a lot of our students that struggle in their high school career starting out their GPA might be lower, a lot of times this is kids who are not always pushed to their limits when we see them taking college classes their GPA has risen they've shown a lot more success, and they're just rejuvenated, its really good to see."
Students like Tyler Thayer who will have his associates degree this time next year.
"It was more of a second chance for me, because people have always told me that I had potential and I need to apply myself and I never really looked at it like that. But this college program has really given me to really apply myself and pursue my dream."
Dee Yarger said the program can help fix an age old problem that first year college students have.
"How many college students go through their freshman year like I don't know what to do. And then they wishy-washy through these classes and those classes. They transfer out, money is left and right. I'm still paying to this 150 dollars a month for my tuition...I wish this would have been at Farewell when I was here."
The Early College program at Farewell high school may be the future of education. Yarger said it will be around for years to come, because the need will continue to exist.
It's no secret that there can be many roadblocks for students from low income areas who are trying to go to college.
Some don't have the money while others think it's just not possible.
Farewell high school is trying to change that with a newly launched Early College program.
Farewell High School's Early College program allows students to complete a high school diploma and an associates degree at the local Community College; all by taking 5 year of high school.
Under the program students earn their associates degree for free. There are similar programs in Clare, Flint, Saginaw and 12 other communities
The program is paid for with Full Time Equivalent funding, that's the state aid that schools normally receive. Although Farwell is at the lowest funding level, officials said they still have enough to pay for students' books and tuition for students.
That's because, they said, the five-year high school represents not a funding increase but a funding shift. Farwell teachers are trained to instruct college courses. And the money the school would normally use for high school classes they re-direct to the college courses instead.
Dee Yarger is the principle of Farwell High school, she said although there are other similar programs, Farewell's is distinct.
"There's not any out there that are exactly like ours. Our program sets them up right in the setting that they're comfortable with right in our farewell campus with teachers that are"
Lynette Leslie is the manager for the program. She said at first students didn't like the idea of staying in school for an extra year. But with support from the staff and the community they came to see it as a good thing.
"The feedback I'm getting at first they were a little apprehensive or hesitant now that the correct information is out there I know more and more students are coming to me they're getting really excited they pass me in the hallways and talk about it a lot. I go to their classrooms, if they're struggling I come to their classrooms and kick em in the butt a little bit.
Leslie says besides the positive feedback, the program is giving some students an avenue to realize their full potential.
"What we're also noticing is that a lot of our students that struggle in their high school career starting out their GPA might be lower, a lot of times this is kids who are not always pushed to their limits when we see them taking college classes their GPA has risen they've shown a lot more success, and they're just rejuvenated, its really good to see."
Students like Tyler Thayer who will have his associates degree this time next year.
"It was more of a second chance for me, because people have always told me that I had potential and I need to apply myself and I never really looked at it like that. But this college program has really given me to really apply myself and pursue my dream."
Dee Yarger said the program can help fix an age old problem that first year college students have.
"How many college students go through their freshman year like I don't know what to do. And then they wishy-washy through these classes and those classes. They transfer out, money is left and right. I'm still paying to this 150 dollars a month for my tuition...I wish this would have been at Farewell when I was here."
The Early College program at Farewell high school may be the future of education. Yarger said it will be around for years to come, because the need will continue to exist.