Paragould High School (PHS) juniors and seniors now have access to concurrent credit options at 樱桃视频 (BRTC).
The new addition builds off of an existing partnership between BRTC and PHS that gave juniors and seniors early career training and opportunities through BRTC鈥檚 Career and Technical Center. Now, students have the option to take the necessary courses to work towards earning a Certificate of General Studies before graduating high school.
鈥淎cross Arkansas, there is a strong push to expand access to concurrent credit and career pathways so students can be better prepared for both college and the workforce,鈥� BRTC Director of Career, Technical, and Concurrent (CTC) Education Beth Davis said. Davis also added, through recent initiatives like the ACCESS legislation, the state is working to increase accelerated learning opportunities and remove barriers so more students can take advantage of programs like this.
The partnership allows students to gain valuable experience, build confidence, and potentially save both time and money as they move into the next phase of their education or career. Former CTC Director and current Dean of General Studies Darenda Kersey said PHS has been 鈥渁 valued partner of BRTC鈥檚 Career and Technical Center for several years,鈥� and she is excited to see this collaboration expand by offering even more opportunities for PHS students through concurrent credit.
BRTC鈥檚 Certificate of General Studies is a 31-hour certificate that covers core classes like English, history, math, and science, while also touching on subjects like fine arts, technology, and social sciences. If students choose, they can continue their studies at BRTC and upgrade their certificate to an Associate of General Studies (AGS) or an Associate of Arts (AA). The AGS and AA provide flexibility and transfer to all Arkansas public 4-year universities. Along with core education, BRTC鈥檚 General Studies program also houses degrees related to the fields of agriculture, criminal justice, and K-6 elementary education.
For more information about BRTC鈥檚 General Education program contact Darenda Kersey at darenda.kersey@blackrivertech.edu or (870) 248-4183.