Middle College

A Proven Way to Recover Virginia High School Dropouts

The Challenge

Nearly one in ten adults in Virginia have entered the workforce without a high school diploma or a general equivalency diploma (GED). Given the record-level increases of projected Virginia high school students, the number of dropouts is expected to increase. Of the approximately 700,000 Virginians without a high school diploma, 150,000 of these individuals are between the ages of 18 and 24. As a group, therefore, these individuals will tend to live their lives in economic margins, earning and contributing less to state revenues.

Middle College: A Proven Solution

Middle Colleges will provide Virginia high school drop-outs between the ages of 18 and 24 an opportunity to attain a GED and enroll in a variety of quality, proven courses that will (1) enhance basic workforce skills through engagement in project-based learning, (2) participate in remedial courses (when necessary), (3) accumulate community college credits applicable towards a degree or certificate and (4) attain an ACT Work Keys workforce readiness certificate.

Since the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) has a remarkable track record of helping Virginian's move from $7 an hour to $17 an hour jobs, the Governor proposes to initially establish two Middle Colleges at Southside Virginia (Keysville) and J. Sargeant Reynolds (Richmond) Community Colleges, a program the VCCS Chancellor successfully implemented as Commissioner of the New Hampshire Community College System. Since community colleges, by their mission, are expected to respond to unmet community needs, Middle Colleges will provide students in rural and urban Virginia an opportunity to associate, identify and connect with a community of achievement-oriented adult learners and outstanding community college faculty and staff dedicated to helping students become a part of the Commonwealth's workforce solution.

Investment

The VCCS, in cooperation with Jobs for American Graduates effective out-of-school/dropout recovery program, propose to enroll up to 30 qualified high school dropouts at each Middle College site, generate strong GED completion rates and assure a large percentage of the GED recipients enroll and achieve community college degrees or industry-based certificates while becoming gainfully employed within their local communities. For less than five thousand dollars per student, this $150,000 investment will support qualified and trained educational specialists/mentors, facility rentals, transportation, and applicable equipment, books, tuition and supplies. Once Middle College students from the two "pilot" institutions demonstrate their successes and show a meaningful return on the state's investment, the General Assembly may want to encourage the use of other public and/or private funds to support Middle Colleges on all 23 community colleges since a growing number of public- and private-sector business, education and government leaders are becoming enthusiastically supportive of this concept as one way to solve their current and future employee skills shortages.

For additional information on Middle College, contact Gloria Westerman, Director, Educational Career Transitional Programs, Virginia Community College System at 804-819-4950.