BCC Expands High School Positive Options Programs01:16PM / Wednesday, August 26, 2009
PITTSFIELD, Mass. - After two years of demonstrated success, the Positive Options program for Drury High School students at Berkshire Community College is expanding.
Developed out of a need to reduce the number of students from dropping out of high school, the Positive Options program offered a small group of academically capable Drury students, with great potential, an alternative setting at BCC. The college provided a classroom, computers, and academic credit recovery software. Drury provided the teacher, students, and transportation to the college each day. According to officials at both institutions, the new setting and different educational approach “made a real difference to these students.”
Beginning next month, Wahconah Regional High School will partner with Drury High School for one of this year’s programs. The two schools have agreed to share a classroom and resources. A total of up to 15 students from the two schools will work to recover credits they need to graduate. Taconic High School and Pittsfield High School will share a second classroom and have their own Positive Options program this year. The two classrooms with a common area between them, located on the lower level of BCC’s library, will provide students and teachers with the benefit of additional collaborations.
The students will also have the opportunity to take BCC courses for college credit as long as they excel in their high school work. While enrolled in the program, the high school students will have all of the privileges of a BCC student, including the issuance of a college ID and participation in all college events and activities.
For more information, contact Michael Bullock, BCC’s dean of student affairs, at 413-236-1601. |
