BIDDEFORD — A couple of years ago, Ken Crepeau and several other teachers from the Biddeford Regional Center of Technology attended a conference and heard about a school in Bangor that provided a pilot program for dual enrollment ”“ high school students who earned high school and college credit for a single class simultaneously.
This was inspired by an idea from Gov. Paul LePage, said Crepeau, of a “bridge year,” in which students could earn transferable college credits in their junior and senior years of high school.
Crepeau said he and the other teachers were so excited they didn’t want to wait for the pilot program to work its way down south to Biddeford.
“We decided we would forge ahead and try to find a post-secondary school on our own,” he said.
Last year, Crepeau, who teaches business and financial management, Richard Dutremble, who teaches business information technology, and Maureen Redmond, who teaches both legal studies and medical assisting, reached an agreement with Thomas College and Northern Maine Community College to offer classes for which students could earn college credit, and the Business Academy was born.
On Thursday, a ceremony was held at Biddeford High School’s Little Theater recognizing the 33 students who earned a collective 126 college credits in the first semester ”“ the number of credits to be earned in the second semester is projected to be even higher.
Not only did the students earn college credits, but they also completed their courses at a high standard, said Crepeau. The average grade was A-.
In addition, dual enrollment courses will save students and their families money if they decide to go on to college after high school.
While the dual enrollment courses are free to students and are part of their normal high school course schedule, he said, the dollar value for the combined credits is approximately $70,000.
Benjamen Nason, a junior who earned three college credits for an accounting class, said he liked the idea that taking a college class in high school would save him money by reducing the number of courses he would have to pay for while at college.
Another value of dual enrollment courses, said Superintendent of Schools Jeremy Ray, is that they teach students that they can complete college-level courses. According to research, he said, this knowledge results in more students going on to college and being successful.
Knowing that they can succeed at college level courses is important for students whether or not they go on to a post-secondary education, said COT Director Peg Levasseur.
Dual enrollment is a “win-win” situation for the college and the students, said Dr. James Libby, the academic dean at Thomas College.
Students get to earn college credit for free while in high school and the school is exposed to more students ”“ who may attend Thomas College after high school graduation. The Thomas College credits earned at the COT are easily transferred if a student decides to attend Thomas College, said Libby.
For those who decide to attend another post-secondary school, the credits can be transferred to other colleges, he said.
Thomas College has dual enrollment arrangements with 20 schools, and 500 students are enrolled in the program. So far, he said, no school has refused the credits.
More dual enrollment courses will be offered at the COT within the next three years, said Libby, and students will be able to earn enough credits to cover one or even two years of college.
Both Libby and Crepeau credit Gov. LePage as making the dual enrollment program possible.
LePage, who attended the Business Academy ceremony, said he was very impressed with the students.
“We challenged them, and they succeeded,” he said.
The problem with the current education system is that doesn’t challenge students enough, said LePage.
Bringing college-level classes to high school challenges students and is “out of the box thinking,” he said.
“What you experienced tonight,” LePage told the students, “is almost a revolution. ”¦ It’s showing Maine people we can do things differently.”
He also said he thought it was a good idea to combine the Business Academy with the COT, continuing to move education from purely academic to more hands-on learning.
Peter Nguyen, a senior who earned three college credits in a class on small business, said he’s glad he could take advantage of the dual enrollment program. The class has helped prepare him for his plans after college of opening his own business.
“I think it’s a really great thing,” he said. “Time is limited. Using time (in high school) to get college credits is really a plus.”
Students from Biddeford High School, Old Orchard Beach High School, Kennebunk High School and Thornton Academy in Saco are eligible to attend the Biddeford Regional Center of Technology.
— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.
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