Nine More New Learn and Earn Schools Opened

Students take college courses and earn college credits or an associate's degree in high school.

August 28, 2007

YADKIN COUNTY NC NEWS -- Nine more new Learn and Earn early college high schools have opened in North Carolina, giving students the ability to take their education to the next level. The Learn and Earn school reform initiative allows students to take college courses and earn two years of college credit or an associate's degree in up to five years of high school. In addition, the Learn and Earn program has received national honor, winning the prestigious Southern Growth Policies Board Innovator Award for its revolutionary approach to reduce high school dropout rates and increase the high school graduation rate.

The Learn and Earn program is North Carolina Governor Mike Easley's school reform initiative, and is by far one of his greatest accomplishment. The Governor's goal is to have every child equipped to succeed in college and the 21st century workplace. This is especially important when a high school diploma is no longer enough to compete in today's job market. There are 33 Learn and Earn schools currently in operation in North Carolina plus nine new sites opening this month. The goal for the end of 2008, is to have 77 Learn and Earn schools across North Carolina.

Governor Easley speaking of the program said: "Learn and Earn gives our students more opportunity to achieve success in the classroom and prepare themselves with the education and skills they need to thrive in the global economy. Furthermore, this program helps us improve high school graduation rates, increase the number of students going on to college, and combined with our EARN scholarship program, helps young people graduate from college debt free."

Many of these Learn and Earn schools are located on community college or university campuses. Thanks to the unique partnerships forged by Easley between high schools, community colleges and universities, Learn and Earn schools are opening doors for kids, beginning as early as ninth grade.

The new Learn and Earn schools and school's partners are:

• Davie County Early College High School - Davie County Schools and Davidson County Community College
• Wayne Early / Middle College High School - Wayne County Schools and Wayne Community College
• GTCC Early / Middle College East - Guilford County Schools and Guilford Technical Community College
• Lenoir County Early College High School - Lenoir County Schools and Lenoir Community College
• Scotland Early College High School - Scotland County Schools and Richmond Community College
• Richmond County Early College High School - Richmond County Schools and Richmond Community College
• New Hanover County Coastal Early College High School - New Hanover County Schools and Cape Fear Community College
• Polk County Early College High School - Polk County Schools and UNCGi (UNC at Greensboro's Internet-based school)
• Yadkin County Early College High School - Yadkin County Schools and Surry Community College

Transcending the traditional teacher and student classrooms, this year the General Assembly approved Easley's $11.5 million proposal to establish Learn and Earn Online so students in any high school, in any county, can take college courses over the Internet. Currently, approximately 277 high schools are participating in the fall of 2007. Courses are provided through UNC-Greensboro online.

The Learn and Earn initiative no longer ends at the high school doors. Easley's EARN (Education Access Rewards North Carolina) scholars program will help low- and moderate-income students attend and graduate from a University of North Carolina campus debt free. The EARN scholarship is a major financial aid program, worth up to $4,000 a year, that combines a two-year state grant with current federal assistance. It will replace the need for loans for students who keep their grades up and work up to 10 hours a week. About 25,000 students are expected to be eligible when the program is fully implemented. North Carolina will invest about $100 million annually. With the EARN scholarship, students who complete the Learn and Earn high school program with two years of college credit will be able to finish their four-year degree at a state university debt-free.

A North Carolina public school does not have to be a Learn and Earn high school in order for your child to participate in Learn and Earn online courses. Any school with adequate connectivity can enroll students. For more information on whether a Learn and Earn program is available in your county, go to or call, your local county public school district office. If your county does not participate in the program, go to your county's board of education and tell them you want your child to "Learn and Earn" in high school.

Published by:
Rob Cross
mailto:editor@357news.com

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