Know facts about Early College

Editor’s note: Another Viewpoint is a column The Morning Journal makes available so all sides of an issue may be aired. Cathleen Phillips is an educator and link crew coordinator for the Lorain County Early College High School program.

I am concerned that the community is misinformed about the differences between Early College High School and College Credit Plus.

I wanted to reassert that the Lorain County Early College High School program is still a viable option available to Lorain families. In order to take advantage of this opportunity, students must be striving to be the first in their families to be college graduates and they must be willing to enroll as a student in Elyria School District. Early College offers free tuition, books, fees and tutoring services.

Early College is currently accepting applications for the class of 2021.

The new freshman class will be taught the core subjects needed to graduate with their high school diplomas and they will be taught additional courses that complete an associate of arts degree from Lorain County Community College.

Students who follow the program and accept the internal support provided by Early College and LCCC staff earn 60 college credits that are fully transferrable to all state universities in Ohio as well many private schools and other schools out of state. Since the creation of Early College in 2008, more than 400 students have graduated with an associate of arts degree and 97 percent of those students continued to pursue an additional degree.

There are more than 400 adults now working and studying, many of them still here in Lorain County, who very likely would not have known how to complete a degree were it not for the Early College High School program.

Some continue to confuse the Early College High School with College Credit Plus. I define them simply this way. College Credit Plus is a way to earn college credits early.

Early College students are ATTENDING college early. They must interact with college professors, sit in classrooms with college students, they learn the importance of asking for help, and being their own advocate for their education.

They are mentored by current Early College students through pitfalls and toward survival skills that only students can teach students. While embracing the true college experience, many Early College students walk across campus to work in HIV research labs, side by side with award-winning scientists. They walk across campus to see Nashville recording artists and attend songwriting workshops and Q&A sessions with “American Idol” finalists.

Attending high school on a college campus makes a difference. Students are separated from the norm of a typical high school day.

It should look differently. It IS different.

Early College students are attempting to do something that no one else in their family has done before them.

In order to do that, they need our support, encouragement and praise. The county should be bragging about the accomplishments of these young people and making sure that every student that qualifies can have the chance to apply.

Applications for the incoming freshman class (graduating class of 2021) are being accepted until April 15.

If you are interested in learning more about Early College High School and/ or applying, please call our school office, 440-366-7689.