Dual credit

THE BIG STORY SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 2017 |

magicvalley.com |

SECTION E

DREW NASH PHOTOS, TIMES-NEWS

Coleman Edwards looks to the screen while his dual-credit emergency medical technician class plays a game similar to ‘Jeopardy’ on Dec. 8 at Twin Falls High School.

The course gives students both high school and college credits — a tactic legislators hope will accelerate students’ college careers and help them finish successfully.

INSERT BELOW: Max Sanasan holds a beaker while Abbey Hansen pours liquid into it during their dual-credit plant science class Dec. 8 at Twin Falls High School.

DUAL CREDIT CHANGES HIGHER ED LANDSCAPE JULIE WOOTTON jwootton@magicvalley.com

T

WIN FALLS — Instead of sports or music, Miranda Packham took more academic classes at Kimberly High School. By the time she graduated in 2012, she had a year’s worth of college credits under her belt. | How did she pull it off? Dual-credit classes allowed her to earn high school and college credits simultaneously. | Within three years after graduation, Packham earned an associate degree from the College of Southern Idaho and a bachelor’s degree from Idaho State University’s Twin Falls program. Now she’s in her second year as a Kimberly Elementary School second-grade teacher. | Stories like hers are becoming more common.

More south-central Idaho teens are getting a jump-start on college as the state offers more money to help students cover the cost.

The purpose is to boost Idaho’s college-going rate — which hovers around 50 percent — and lower the financial burden for students. Plus, educators say, students who take dual-credit classes are more likely to continue in college and earn better grades.

Across Idaho, about 15,000 students took dual-credit classes in 2015 — up nearly 200 percent from 2008, according to the Idaho Board of Education.

CSI has seen a similar trend.

A decade ago, 871 students took dual-credit classes — making up about 13 percent of CSI’s student body. By the 2016 fall semester, that number jumped to 2,444 “We have to students at more prepare them than 65 high schools — plus a lot younger.” virtual academies Tara Williams, — making 35 perschool counselor cent of the college’s total headcount.

CSI’s dual-credit reach extends far beyond its south-central Idaho service area. Why? Lowcost offerings, at $65 per credit, and hundreds of classes for students to choose from, either taught by high school teachers or delivered via videoconferencing.

CSI has the numbers. But will that get the results Idaho lawmakers hoped for — accelerating students’ college careers and helping them finish successfully?

It’s too soon to say.

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Dual credit in Twin Falls As of Dec. 12, the Twin Falls School District had 451 students taking dual-credit classes, for a total of 631 courses 300 27.1 percent of the class

29.3 percent of the class

250

200

150 11.9 percent of the class

100

50 1.6 percent of the class

0

Ninth grade KEY:

Students in the given grade

10th grade Courses taken

11th grade

12th grade SOURCE: Twin Falls School District

Here’s where Twin Falls School District students are taking those 631 dual-credit courses: College of Southern Idaho ......................... 152 Idaho Digital Learning Academy ................. 55 College of Western Idaho .............................. 2 Boise State University ................................... 1 Northwest Nazarene University .................... 1

More money

the Twin Falls School District.

State legislators boosted funding for Advanced “We have students who may have not taken duOpportunities programs during the 2016 session, al-credit courses because they couldn’t afford it,” and the changes took effect July 1. Now each stu- he said. dent has a total of $4,125 available to use from sevSimply by filling out forms with their school enth through 12th grades. counselors’ help, students can get the state money That opens up opportunities for more students, said L.T. Erickson, secondary programs director for Please see EDUCATION, Page E3

MORE INSIDE: Students with dual-credit experience: 3 high school students, 3 college students and 3 college graduates, E2

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THE BIG STORY

| SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 2017

TIMES-NEWS

STUDENTS WITH DUAL-CREDIT EXPERIENCE

More south-central Idaho teens are getting a jump-start on college as the state offers more money to help cover the cost. The goal: Boost Idaho’s college-going rate and lower the financial burden for students.

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS Garrett McInnes, 17

Education: Canyon Ridge High School senior.

Her experience: Kiara finished her high school requirements last semester.

Now she’s taking one dual-credit algebra class at Canyon Ridge and three more classes — speech, sociology and English — at the College of Southern Idaho. The speech class is online.

Kiara heard about dual-credit classes after moving to Twin Falls

from Salt Lake City at the end of her sophomore year. She started taking college-level classes as a junior.

A transition coordinator from CSI told Kiara about how it’s cheaper to take dual credit than to pay full price later in college.

“I might as well get it finished right now,” Kiara said.

She thought it would be really hard, but it was easier than she thought.

“I always like challenges,” she said. “There’s more work to do, but it’s worth it because you learn a lot more in the subject.”

Kiara hopes to finish general education and prerequisite classes at CSI before transferring to Boise State University to pursue a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

She suggests younger students start dual credit “as early as you can.”

“It’s a really great thing to have

Critchfield first studied physical therapy but later switched to graphic design. She finished an associate’s degree in about a year and a half and transferred to BYUE d u c a t i o n : Idaho.

Graduated from Oakley High School in 2013; attends Brigham Young University-Idaho.

Plans to graduate in July with a bachelor’s degree in graphic design.

Her experience: After talks with her parents, Critchfield’s decision to take dual credit in high school was a “no-brainer” because Abigail Education: the costs are lower.

These twin sisters And the high school environment graduated from Jeis beneficial to students taking colrome High School lege-level classes, Critchfield said, in 2016 and are freshmen at Colbecause they get more one-on-one lege of Idaho in help from a teacher.

She started dual-credit classes in Caldwell. her junior year.

Their experience: Abigail and “When registration came Kathryn Kathryn are both around, I just chose a class that I thought would be interesting,” she on the college’s cross-country team. said. She picked psychology. Then Kathryn, studying health science, she took a variety including English hopes to go to medical school. She’s and math. working to narrow down specialty Attending Green River College in options but leans toward anestheAuburn, Wash., to play volleyball, siology. she already had many general eduAbigail, majoring in history and cation classes done. “I went into it minoring in religious studies, crewith a lot of credits.” ative writing and education, is de-

bating whether to become a history teacher or an archaeologist.

Each took four dual-credit classes in high school: chemistry, government and two English classes.

“As soon as sophomore year, my mom mentioned about taking dual-credit classes,” Abigail said, so she looked into it. “It was a lot easier making the transition from high school to college.”

Dual credit, she said, didn’t add much to her homework load.

Abigail also liked having some general classes out of the way so she could focus on her major. The private college she chose, however, counted some of her dual-credit classes as electives instead of core classes.

“I think people should think about taking dual credit,” she said.

“It helps when you get to college.

Overall, I think it was a good thing to take as a high school student.”

Kathryn said dual-credit classes require more studying on your own — especially if you’re taking an online class.

“I just felt that it was — both looking at the academic point and financial part of it as well — smart to take the dual credits and at least get a little bit of college courses out of the way,” Kathryn said.

Education: Twin Falls High School senior.

His experience: Garrett knows he wants to be an orthopedic surgeon. And he’s taking a step toward that goal: a dual-credit emergency medical technician class through the College of Southern Idaho.

“This is the most advanced medical class our school can offer us,” he said.

The class spans two class periods each school day and earns 10 college credits. McInnes is also taking dual-credit English.

“I take as many dual-credit classes as I can,” he said.

One big consideration: Garrett

said it’s scary that dual-credit classes can affect your college grade point average. That means there’s a lot of pressure — but also motivation — to do well.

Kiara Rios, 17

it done and over with,” she said.

Even if the credits don’t trans“I think it’s a very, very good pro- fer as core classes at a university, gram.” he said, “at least I’ll have electives out of the way.” And even if he has to retake some classes in college, he’ll already have an introduction to the topics.

Preston’s workload was easy his E d u c a t i o n : freshman and sophomore years, so Twin Falls High taking dual credits was intimating at first. “I was definitely worried.”

School senior.

His experiHe took his first dual-credit ence: Preston was class — health occupations — as a excited to take a dual-credit emer- sophomore. After he got through gency medical technician class. the first quarter, he realized it was “That’s all I have been looking possible to do well in college-level forward to since freshman year,” classes. said Preston, who marvels that it’s Many dual-credit classes run for a program offered in high school. a full school year — twice as long as Last year, all of his classes except CSI’s semester schedule. student government were dual “You definitely have more time credit. The workload was bru- to grasp the concepts,” said Prestal. Preston averaged about seven ton, who wants to become an enhours of homework a night but said docrinologist. it was worth it.

—Julie Wootton

Preston Hazen, 17

COLLEGE STUDENTS Mallory Critchfield, 21

Abigail and Kathryn Craig, 18

Jericho Schroeder, 20

Education: Kimberly High School, graduated in 2014. At Boise State University, she’s working toward a bachelor’s degree in biology and pre-medical studies, and a minor in psychology; she plans to graduate in December 2018.

Her experience: When Schroeder left Kimberly High, she already had an associate’s degree from the College of Southern Idaho — thanks in part to dual-credit classes. But she doesn’t plan to graduate early from college, due to transferring schools, switching her major and retaking classes.

After graduation, she attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

“I decided to retake some of the core classes there because I felt like I wanted a better understanding,” she said.

Schroeder studied psychology but changed her major. She took a semester off and transferred to BSU.

Having general education classes out of the way, though, was beneficial, she said. “In a way, it helped me dive into my major and helped me figure things out.”

In high school, “I didn’t have any electives or fun classes,” Schroeder said, except for the minimum number needed to stay active with FFA and Business Professionals of America.

“Other than that, I just took a lot of core classes,” she said. “It was kind of hard because it was hard to study and balance those out.”

Both of Schroeder’s parents are educators and pushed her to take advanced classes.

In middle school, she took math classes one grade level ahead. Her first dual credit was pre-calculus as a sophomore. Then she decided to pursue an associate degree at CSI to take advantage of lower community college tuition.

“I’m really glad I did it,” Schroeder said. “I really feel like it helped me to prepare me for what college would be like. It was nice to jump right into my major.”

—Julie Wootton

COLLEGE GRADUATES Jacee Bedke, 22 Education: Oakley High School, graduated in 2012; associate degree in liberal arts from College of Southern Idaho; graduated in spring 2016 from CSI’s medical assistant program.

“My degree covers the administrative role as well as clinical,” Bedke said.

Occupation: Certified medical assistant at St. Luke’s Mountain States Tumor Institute in Twin Falls.

Her experience: Bedke didn’t take dual credit until her junior year at Oakley High. She regrets waiting to get started.

It was “very beneficial and convenient to have those done,” she said, and a relief to have a few

college classes under her belt. “If I could go back and take them all throughout high school, I would have.”

Her advice for high schoolers: If you’re going to take a dual-credit class, be serious about it. Be motivated.

“Take the time to do a good job,” she said. “It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.”

Miranda Packham, 22 Education: Kimberly High School, graduated in 2012; College of Southern Idaho, associate degree in 2013; and Idaho State University-Twin Falls, bachelor’s degree in 2015.

Occupation: This is Packham’s second year as a second-grade

teacher at Kimberly Elementary School — her alma mater.

Her experience: As a Kimberly High student, Packham focused on college credits instead of extracurricular activities.

“I kind of just realized that sports just weren’t my thing and that I needed to focus on my academics,” she said.

Packham sat down with her school counselor and a CSI counselor to figure out how to fasttrack her education. By the time she graduated, she had a year’s worth of college credits.

After a year at CSI, she graduated with an associate degree in elementary education. And after two years in ISU’s Twin Falls program, she had a bachelor’s degree.

One thing that helped: Packham knew she wanted to be an elementary teacher and didn’t change her mind. “I knew what I wanted and just went for it.”

Besides taking dual credit,

Packham applied for many college scholarships. “I didn’t have to pay a dime for schooling.”

If you put effort into scholarship applications, Packham said, it’s easy to offset the cost of college. “The money is out there, but you just need to find it.”

Justin Novacek, 24 Education: Kimberly High School, graduated in 2010; University of Idaho, 2014 degrees in accounting and operations management.

Occupation: Process methods analyst for Boeing in Renton, Wash.

His experience: When Novacek decided to take college-level classes in high school, he felt

prepared.

“I just kind of wanted to challenge myself a little bit more,” he said. Plus, he added, CSI offers low-cost credits for high schoolers. Novacek wanted to save money and get “not-so-exciting classes out of the way.”

He accumulated 22 college credits by the time he left Kimberly High. He went into the U of I as an engineering student but switched to business and earned two degrees.

“The dual-credit program — especially at Kimberly — helped me get a good start on my college career,” Novacek said. “It allowed me to find exactly what I wanted to do.”

Another benefit: It gave his college GPA a boost. He graduated cum laude.

“If you really apply yourself in dual-credit classes,” he said, “it’s pretty easy to get good grades.”

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THE BIG STORY

Times-News

Sunday, January 22, 2017 | E3

DREW NASH PHOTOS, TIMES-NEWS‌

Students gather for a photosynthesis experiment during a Twin Falls High School dual-credit class Dec. 8.

Education From E1

to help pay for overload classes, dual-credit classes and exams such as Advanced Placement or professional-technical certifications.

Since 2014, Idaho’s Fast Forward program has reimbursed high school juniors for up to three dual credits (typically, one class) and seniors for six dual credits (two classes).

Another plus for high schoolers: low tuition. Dual-credit classes through CSI cost $65 per credit — about half what regular college students pay.

And students can be eligible for a statefunded college scholarship if they take dual credit, ranging from $2,000 if they earned 10 credits in high school to $8,000 if they earned an associate degree.

Across Idaho, most dual-credit participants earn between 10 and 19 college credits by the time they graduate from high school, according to the Idaho Board of Education. Fewer than 1 percent earn an associate degree.

That could change.

Increasing demand‌

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In the Twin Falls School District, nearly 30 percent of high school seniors are taking a dual-credit class.

Numbers are “way up,” and the boost in state funding plays a huge role, said Matthew Alexander, a counselor at Canyon Ridge High School.

Some dual-credit classes at Canyon Ridge have requested extra textbooks to handle the growth, Erickson said.

But some see even greater potential. Canyon Ridge counselor Char Nelson said she’d like to see more outreach to students “who are disenfranchised in school.”

Typically, students in dual-credit classes are ones who will likely go to college anyway and are getting a push from their parents, Canyon Ridge counselor Tara Williams said.

For high schoolers who take dual credit, the most popular choices are often general education classes such as English, history and chemistry. Calculus and other highlevel math classes aren’t.

Erickson said he’d like to see a dual-credit food science program that would feed into CSI’s offerings and meet Magic Valley work force needs.

The Twin Falls district already has a handful of specialty dual-credit classes — such as emergency medical technician, certified nursing assistant and welding — that allow students to earn a workplace-recognized certification.

On the afternoon of Dec. 8, students in the dual-credit emergency medical technician class at Twin Falls High School were playing a “Jeopardy”-style game to review for their final exam in a classroom stocked with stretchers and a dummy. The previous day, instructors from CSI had come to conduct the hands-on skills portion of the test.

Elsewhere on the Twin Falls High campus that afternoon, students in a dual-credit plant sciences class were working on an experiment.

“This lab is really dependent on you following the instructions very carefully,” teacher Blaine Campbell told them. Once students had lab sheets, they received a cup, a syringe, a plastic straw and materials from nine plants.

Campbell — who teaches plant science, animal science and applied livestock classes through CSI — has instructed dual-credit classes for about eight years, initially through the University of Idaho.

“It just expands opportunities for my students,” he said.

About 90 percent of the Twin Falls

CSI enrollment As College of Southern Idaho enrollment rose and fell over the past decade, the number of dual-credit students steadily grew.

10000 Total CSI headcount per year

8000

6000

4000 Dual-credit students per year

2000

0

2006

2016

Note: From 2012 to the present, total headcount is based on Oct. 15 enrollment. In previous years, it was counted on the 10th day of fall semester. Dual-credit numbers for all years are from Oct. 15.

Source: College of Southern Idaho.

Dual credit in Cassia County The Cassia County School District had 196 students taking dual-credit classes in fall 2016, up from 147 the previous fall.

Fall 2016 Burley High School ................................... 89 Declo High School .....................................67 Oakley High School....................................28 Raft River High School .............................. 12

Fall 2015 Burley High School ...................................66 Declo High School .................................... 58 Oakley High School....................................17 Raft River High School .............................. 6 Source: Cassia County School District

LEFT: Student Nathaniel Gardner works during a dual-credit plant science class Dec. 8 at Twin Falls High School. His instructor, Blaine Campbell, also teaches dual-credit animal science and applied livestock classes through the College of Southern Idaho.

“When it comes down to it, it’s parents’ and students’ money.”

L.T. Erickson, Twin Falls School District secondary programs director School District’s dual-credit students take their classes through CSI. The exceptions: about 55 students who use the Idaho Digital Learning Academy, and a handful through the College of Western Idaho or Boise State University.

As low unemployment drives down CSI’s traditional enrollment, the college is shifting resources to accommodate the big rise in dual credit.

For example, CSI may not need 30 sections of English on campus, said Cesar Perez, associate dean of extended studies.

Instead, those faculty members or adjunct instructors may go to nearby high schools to teach classes or mentor dual-credit instructors.

Ready or not?‌

When is a student ready to take a dual-credit class?

Students and their parents have to sign a form saying they understand the responsibility that comes with taking a college-level class. There aren’t formal guidelines, though, for who can take one.

“When it comes down to it, it’s parents’ and students’ money,” Erickson said.

CSI prefers students are 16 or older, but it’s not a requirement.

And students should have a high school sophomore-level standing and a minimum 2.5 GPA, Perez said.

Another tool: test scores on placement exams to determine the English or math

class a student should take.

As a teacher, Campbell said, he’s “pretty direct” when he talks with students and parents about what to expect, and his students do well.

Alexander said he checks to see if students have taken a rigorous class load in high school and how well they’ve done.

Counselors can help students find what they enjoy doing, Nelson said. “If they know what they want to do, they often want to accelerate.”

Taking a college-level class has consequences — positive or negative. The grades end up on students’ high school and college Please see EDUCATION, Page E4

E4 | Sunday, January 22, 2017

THE BIG STORY

Times-News

DREW NASH PHOTOS, TIMES-NEWS‌

Devri Reeves reacts to getting an answer correct during a dual-credit emergency medical technician class Dec. 8 at Twin Falls High School.

Education

TOP: Twin Falls High School student Jordan Hardy works on a photosynthesis experiment in her dual-credit plant science class. BOTTOM: Twin Falls High School student Amanda Winson plays a game similar to ‘Jeopardy’ with classmates during their dual-credit emergency medical technician course.

level that we demand in our department,” said CSI associate English professor Debra Matier, a dual-credit mentor.

From E3 She observes each dual-credit English transcripts. And if they fail a class, it could instructor once a semester. But there’s frejeopardize their ability to get financial aid quent communication beyond that. or their academic standing in college.

“I try not to treat them any differently What do students need to succeed? than any other instructor,” Matier said.

“More than anything, they need to have “They’re part of our team.” the study skills in place,” Williams said.

CSI approves agreements with duAnd motivation is important. al-credit teachers for the length of a class.

Classes typically last an entire year, makHigh school teachers must be devoted to ing the pacing easier for high schoolers. it, Matier said, and see it as a way to help “The advantage of dual credit is we do their students. “They have to want to.” in a full year what the college does in a seHigh school teachers must apply and mester,” Nelson said. submit a resume to CSI to be considered One safeguard to ensure students do to teach a dual-credit class; each college well: If they fail a class, they no longer have department handles the hiring and sets access to state money until they success- qualifications. Then there’s a two-phase fully pass another dual-credit class they mentoring system, depending on the inpay for themselves. tensity of help teachers need.

At CSI, each department decides who Planning earlier for college‌ will mentor dual-credit instructors. FacThere’s a huge shift in what school coun- ulty members get extra pay or a lighter class selors tell students about planning, Wil- load for filling that role. liams said. They used to tell students it Especially in rural areas, it’s hard enough was OK to go to college without a declared just to find high school teachers, Perez said, major. Now, it’s too costly to figure it out so finding someone who’s qualified to teach once they get there. dual credit can be extremely challenging.

“We have to prepare them For example, a master’s dea lot younger,” Williams said. gree is required for teachers “It just expands to lead English 102 classes.

By 10th grade, it helps for students to have a “strong opportunities for Many high schools don’t sense of what they want to have an English teacher my students.” do.” with that level of education.

Nelson — who was a midThis spring, two CSI faculty Blaine Campbell, dle school counselor last year members will go to Jerome dual-credit teacher — said she heard a lot of inHigh School to teach English terest among young students 102.

Another way around the teacher shortin Advanced Opportunities programs.

If students plan to earn an associate de- age: using videoconferencing equipment gree by the time they graduate from high to teach remotely. That’s particularly school, they can start taking high school- common for dual-credit classes in eastern level classes in middle school.

Idaho, Perez said.

Eighth-graders in the Twin Falls School District develop a six-year plan, which they Do students finish go over with their parents during March college earlier?‌ student-led conferences.

It’s unusual, though, for students to aim There are mixed results on whether stufor an associate degree by the time they dents who take dual credit earn college degraduate from high school. Only about five grees faster. Many students change their students in Twin Falls accomplish that each majors in college, Nelson said, leading to year. delays.

One way to get around students’ chang“I think it will probably increase,” Erickson said, but not much because it’s so ing interests: help them get general educarigorous. tion classes out of the way in high school.

If students want to earn 36-credit acaTo gauge the impact of dual credit, the demic certificates through CSI or just take Twin Falls School District is considering a few dual-credit classes, they don’t gener- surveying high school seniors just before ally have to start until they’re juniors. they graduate about their plans. Then, stuAn academic certificate fulfills gen- dents would be surveyed again at one year eral education requirements, and credits and at 18 months after high school. transfer to Idaho public colleges and uniFor Packham — the former dual credit versities. student who’s now a Kimberly teacher — dual credit paid off by expediting her college career.

Quality control‌ More high school teachers leading col“I knew what I wanted,” she said, “and lege-level classes brings up the question of just went for it.” quality control.

Since 2013, CSI has been a member of National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships, an agency that provides accreditation for dual-credit programs. It means CSI must meet standards to demonstrate the quality of its program.

Selecting and preparing dual-credit instructors is “not a very shotgun approach,” Perez said. “It’s very intentional.”

Jarred Aslett, advanced opportunities senior coordinator at CSI, frequently receives questions from high schools about how to get more teachers qualified to teach dual credit.

“With all these high schools, the biggest question is, ‘How can we do more?’” he said.

Reporter Julie Wootton has written CSI contracts with 265 dual-credit inabout dual credit in the Magic Valley structors across the state; the largest porsince 2011. In high school, she earned tion are in core academic subject areas such nearly a year’s worth of college credits as English and math. They’re paired with by taking free community college classes mentors at CSI who look at their class sylduring the summer and Advanced Placelabuses and assignments. ment classes during the school year.

“We make sure they’re teaching at the

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