Help students reach for college

Barriers to continuing an education beyond high school aren’t always financial in nature, although finding a way to pay for it can be the ultimate deal-breaker. A hurdle that’s almost as high is the one put up by socioeconomic culture: Kids and parents disqualify themselves from the college pathway because nobody in their immediate circle has ever taken that leap.

So the fact that there are programs in some high schools aimed at dismantling these barriers is an exciting development, and one that Hawaii’s school communities should support wherever possible.

One of the latest programs to come into focus is called the Early College High School Initiative, outlined this week by Star-Advertiser writer Nanea Kalani. It was launched last summer at Waipahu High School, and it’s remarkable how much can be accomplished by using largely the basic state resources provided to every school.

Principal Keith Hayashi said the idea was to let high school students prove to themselves that they are college material by letting them enroll in select classes offered on their own campus through Leeward Community College and the University of Hawaii at West Oahu. The high school is able to afford tuition because the college campuses only charge the instructor rate as tuition, a critical piece of the partnership.

The test case was in the summer session 2012 when Psychology 100 was offered. By next spring semester there will be English 100, Chemistry 151, Physics 100B, Accounting 124, Speech 151, Culinary 111 and an eighth class yet to be named.

The classes count toward high school graduation as well as college credit, which makes the program achievable for many time-crunched teens who often have outside jobs as well. As a result, more than 200 Waipahu seniors will start school in the fall with 20 of the 24 credits needed to graduate and a jump on college to boot. In addition, college fairs help guide students and parents through many of the hoops of the college-bound track.

The intent, Hayashi said, was to encourage students who are underrepresented in college and the better-paying careers to earn a degree. These are mainly students from low-income families or whose families, for whatever reason, haven’t attended college themselves.

The program is one of the various efforts to put college within easier grasp of students who often self-disqualify, said Kathryn Matayoshi, state superintendent of schools, at a Star-Advertiser editorial board meeting this week. These also include the college preparatory International Baccalaureate Schools, Running Start (piloted in 2000 in partnership with Honolulu Community College) and Jump Start, which is aimed at post-graduate vocational training.

Matayoshi said she prefers letting high schools design and drive the programs rather than mandating them statewide, providing as much support as possible. That is undoubtedly the right instinct, and fostering more community partnerships will be key.

A presentation on Waipahu’s college-ready initiatives summarized the goal this way: “Helping students to find their passion, then providing the opportunities and support for success.” Programs such as Early College clearly provide fuel for that journey.