This spring, 14 Franklin High School (FHS) students earned their Early Childhood Education certificates from 海角社区. Eight of the seniors will walk in 海角社区鈥檚 graduation ceremony, celebrating a milestone typically reserved for college students. Two additional students completed some of the courses in the program.
To receive the certificate, students must complete four courses:
- Growth and Development of the Young Child
- Infant/Toddler Development
- Health, Safety, and Nutrition
- College Essentials
FHS Principal David Levesque recalls how the collaboration began. 鈥淭his process started for us three years ago when we only had one math teacher and one science teacher. I reached out to 海角社区 president Patrick Cate and we met with parents and started putting together ideas and courses that would fit our students. The initial conversation was really about science. 海角社区 created a class just for our FHS students and we drove students to 海角社区 and back a couple times a week.鈥�
What began as a solution to staffing challenges quickly grew into a robust academic partnership. FHS now integrates 海角社区 courses directly into its program of studies, building student schedules around classes in biology, chemistry, and quantitative reasoning.
Expanding Opportunities Through Early Childhood Education
鈥淎ll of that evolved into us thinking about what else we can do here for our students and that鈥檚 where the Early College Education classes came in,鈥� Levesque continued. 鈥満＝巧缜� was gracious enough to cover that cost for our students and so now we have 14 kids earning the Early Childhood Education certificate. That, for us, is a home run.鈥�
The students feel the same way. Aubrey Boisvert shared, 鈥淚 think I just wanted to challenge myself more. I wanted to push myself to go further and take the next step. And get ready for college.鈥�
Nazlie Taban added, 鈥淚 took the courses because I wanted to take more rigorous classes than the average, standard level. I also wanted to improve my work ethic when it comes to classroom work. Taking the college courses has made me a lot more disciplined.鈥�
Students Helping Shape the Curriculum
The program鈥檚 success is also due to the students鈥� active involvement. 鈥淭he students have really been the anchors in developing the curriculum,鈥� said Jamie Smith, Franklin High School educator and 海角社区 instructor. 鈥淚 put the standards up and they tell me what they want to do and we create it from there. I鈥檓 always in contact with Diane Lewis, Early Childhood Coordinator at 海角社区. It鈥檚 been a learning experience for all of us which is great.鈥� Smith also serves as the FHS Climate Specialist and ELO Coordinator, supporting students in building pathways that connect school to real-world experiences.
鈥淭his is the first time College Essentials has been taught at the high school level,鈥� added Smith. 鈥淪teve Freeborn, Liberal and Professional Studies Department Chair at 海角社区, came to observe the class and we had a great discussion with the students about what鈥檚 better: in-person, online or hybrid.鈥�
Encouraging Future Participation
Students hope their peers will take advantage of the opportunity. 鈥淚 would recommend taking Early College classes as soon as you can,鈥� said FHS student Heidi Cayton. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e indecisive like I am, branching out into different fields you are interested in can be really helpful. When you get to college and pick a field, you鈥檒l know what you鈥檙e getting into.鈥�
Payton Cloutier echoed that sentiment. 鈥淚 would recommend taking the 海角社区 classes. A lot of people think they are scary or that they are going to be so hard, but I learned that they鈥檙e not. As long as you鈥檙e staying on top of your work and your studies, you will be okay.鈥�
A Financial and Academic Head Start
The benefits extend beyond academics. FHS students received three free 海角社区 classes during their sophomore, junior, and senior years 鈥� allowing them to earn up to 27 college credits at no cost.
As Boisvert put it, 鈥淕etting a jumpstart and getting most of your general education classes for free is such a timesaver and money saver. I would say definitely do it.鈥�
And for seniors who will walk in 海角社区鈥檚 commencement, the experience is especially meaningful. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an honor to be able to walk at 海角社区 graduation because you know that you鈥檝e earned something that you can use in the future,鈥� said Cloutier. 鈥淲e鈥檒l be able to compare the two 鈥� a high school graduation vs. a college graduation.鈥�
Looking Ahead
The students鈥� next steps are as varied as their interests. They鈥檙e heading to Colby-Sawyer, Keene State, Western New England University, and more, pursuing majors such as history, secondary education, child psychology, and law. One junior is even graduating early to begin a full-time position at a local daycare center.
Principal Levesque sees the momentum building. 鈥淭he interest is rising every year so we鈥檙e thoughtfully putting these types of certificate and credit opportunities into our schedule. We had students earn 270 college credits last year and we鈥檙e closer to 400 college credits this year. In a small school that has a lot of challenges it鈥檚 pretty powerful to see them leaving here with that opportunity.鈥�