@authorjoyelan In California, particularly in Oakland, the school district has been failing families and the children with lack of funding and potential school closures. There is another issue of the school to prison pipeline, where students of color are punished harshly at school and led to being suspended or arrested at school as early as 5 years old. Most of us cannot help our children with their math homework because of Common Core and some of us are fortunate that our children attend an after-school program where they can get assistance. With the different barriers that affect us differently, it makes it hard for us to challenge the system or find ways to educate our children successfully.
But did you know that there is a way around the public education system to get your children to college? Despite what the teachers may think of your children, you can get your children on a college track for free or with very little money. You can enroll a child at a community college if they are mature enough to do so. Think about it, when did your high school grades matter when you attended any college course? When you got to college, whether a community college or a university, you had to take a placement exam to see what you know. From that exam, the counselors were able to see what classes you matched for.
It is the same thing for students under 18 years old. A student will have to take an assessment exam to see what classes that they need to work towards their Associate’s degree. The students can take classes not offered at their schools and get the right education to prepare them for college or a vocation. And in some cases, the classes they take can help them graduate high school faster. This program is called Dual Enrollment. Since I live in Oakland, the nearest community college district is Peralta Community College, which I will use as an example. For Peralta Community Colleges, if they are in elementary and middle schools, the courses are free if they are enrolled under 11 units (2-3 courses). They have steps to take, such as getting a signed permission form from the school principal. From the Peralta Colleges Admission Information, I was able to get this information.
Elementary & Middle School Students
The Elementary and Middle School Special Enrollment provides enrichment opportunities for elementary and middle school students who can benefit from college-level instruction.
The Peralta Community College District (PCCD) may admit a limited number of elementary and middle school students who have exceptional ability, or who desire specialized or advanced training. Such admission must be with the recommendation of the principal and approval of the parent or guardian. Please note that not all four Peralta Colleges offer this program, therefore contact/visit the Admissions and Records Office on campus prior to completing the Admissions application and the Elementary and Middle School Special Enrollment form.
Elementary and middle school students enrolling in a college-level course must meet assessment requirements. The student must follow all the regulations and policies of the college, including adhering to any prerequisite requirements.
Special part-time enrolled elementary/middle school students are exempt from paying the California Community College enrollment fees and all other fees. Elementary and middle school students may not enroll in more than 1 class per semester except during the summer term.
High School Students
Beginning Fall 2016, students enrolled in 11 units or less will not be charged enrollment fees or any other college/district fees except AC Transit Easy Pass Fee. The AC Transit Easy Pass Fee will be charged to students enrolled in 6 units or more.* Special admit full-time students will pay enrollment fees, AC Transit fee, Health Fee, Student Representation Fee, and Campus Center Use Fee. High school students enrolled in more than 11.0 units are required to pay enrollment and all other mandatory fees (See the current Peralta Colleges class schedule for current health, campus use, and transportation fees).
The High School Special Enrollment is specifically designed to accelerate the academic or vocational career of high school students. Access to the Special Enrollment Program is NOT allowed for:
Not many of us are aware of our choices and it is legal to do this process. I graduated from high school a semester early because I went to summer school at my high school every year to get ahead. When I graduated early, I went to a community college to get started on my college units. When I started my freshman year at UC Berkeley, I completed 9 units, which was almost one semester. The summer break for college students is about 3 months. Instead of vacationing, I went to summer school for the first 6 weeks, then had the 2nd 6 weeks off. I went to summer school every year at UC Berkeley to take classes required to graduate. By the time fall started, I completed 6-8 units. I graduated from UC Berkeley in 3 years! A teen in Indiana got her Associate’s degree then graduated with her Bachelor’s degree right before she graduated from high school. In fact, she got her Bachelor’s on May 5, 2017, then got her high school diploma a few weeks later on May 22, 2017.
This is your chance as parents to change your children’s lives and go around the education system. Summer school is not offered except to repeat classes because some schools did not want students to graduate early. They may have taken that option from us, but we can do something else to make our children productive. Also, at the community college, students can take vocational classes that are not offered at their school. Not everyone is meant to go to a university. You can be just as successful as a plumber, mechanic, beautician, chef, and so many more. Also, they can transfer these units to a 4-year college when they want and it will reduce their student debt and units because they took the required general education courses needed for a Bachelor’s degree. This is your chance for your child to discover what they are good at and get them ahead in the education game.
About Joy Elan: Joy Elan is an author of six books and she writes about various social issues. She received her BA in African American Studies at UC Berkeley and her MA in Education at Stanford University. She can be contacted at www.authorjoyelan.com.
But did you know that there is a way around the public education system to get your children to college? Despite what the teachers may think of your children, you can get your children on a college track for free or with very little money. You can enroll a child at a community college if they are mature enough to do so. Think about it, when did your high school grades matter when you attended any college course? When you got to college, whether a community college or a university, you had to take a placement exam to see what you know. From that exam, the counselors were able to see what classes you matched for.
It is the same thing for students under 18 years old. A student will have to take an assessment exam to see what classes that they need to work towards their Associate’s degree. The students can take classes not offered at their schools and get the right education to prepare them for college or a vocation. And in some cases, the classes they take can help them graduate high school faster. This program is called Dual Enrollment. Since I live in Oakland, the nearest community college district is Peralta Community College, which I will use as an example. For Peralta Community Colleges, if they are in elementary and middle schools, the courses are free if they are enrolled under 11 units (2-3 courses). They have steps to take, such as getting a signed permission form from the school principal. From the Peralta Colleges Admission Information, I was able to get this information.
Elementary & Middle School Students
The Elementary and Middle School Special Enrollment provides enrichment opportunities for elementary and middle school students who can benefit from college-level instruction.
The Peralta Community College District (PCCD) may admit a limited number of elementary and middle school students who have exceptional ability, or who desire specialized or advanced training. Such admission must be with the recommendation of the principal and approval of the parent or guardian. Please note that not all four Peralta Colleges offer this program, therefore contact/visit the Admissions and Records Office on campus prior to completing the Admissions application and the Elementary and Middle School Special Enrollment form.
Elementary and middle school students enrolling in a college-level course must meet assessment requirements. The student must follow all the regulations and policies of the college, including adhering to any prerequisite requirements.
Special part-time enrolled elementary/middle school students are exempt from paying the California Community College enrollment fees and all other fees. Elementary and middle school students may not enroll in more than 1 class per semester except during the summer term.
High School Students
Beginning Fall 2016, students enrolled in 11 units or less will not be charged enrollment fees or any other college/district fees except AC Transit Easy Pass Fee. The AC Transit Easy Pass Fee will be charged to students enrolled in 6 units or more.* Special admit full-time students will pay enrollment fees, AC Transit fee, Health Fee, Student Representation Fee, and Campus Center Use Fee. High school students enrolled in more than 11.0 units are required to pay enrollment and all other mandatory fees (See the current Peralta Colleges class schedule for current health, campus use, and transportation fees).
The High School Special Enrollment is specifically designed to accelerate the academic or vocational career of high school students. Access to the Special Enrollment Program is NOT allowed for:
- Remedial work (any classes in any discipline that are not college level and cannot be applied to an associate degree or higher). Remedial course numbers are 250 or higher.
- Work to make up for failed high school or middle school classes.
- Recreation or hobbies.
- Any class that can be taken at the local high school.
Not many of us are aware of our choices and it is legal to do this process. I graduated from high school a semester early because I went to summer school at my high school every year to get ahead. When I graduated early, I went to a community college to get started on my college units. When I started my freshman year at UC Berkeley, I completed 9 units, which was almost one semester. The summer break for college students is about 3 months. Instead of vacationing, I went to summer school for the first 6 weeks, then had the 2nd 6 weeks off. I went to summer school every year at UC Berkeley to take classes required to graduate. By the time fall started, I completed 6-8 units. I graduated from UC Berkeley in 3 years! A teen in Indiana got her Associate’s degree then graduated with her Bachelor’s degree right before she graduated from high school. In fact, she got her Bachelor’s on May 5, 2017, then got her high school diploma a few weeks later on May 22, 2017.
This is your chance as parents to change your children’s lives and go around the education system. Summer school is not offered except to repeat classes because some schools did not want students to graduate early. They may have taken that option from us, but we can do something else to make our children productive. Also, at the community college, students can take vocational classes that are not offered at their school. Not everyone is meant to go to a university. You can be just as successful as a plumber, mechanic, beautician, chef, and so many more. Also, they can transfer these units to a 4-year college when they want and it will reduce their student debt and units because they took the required general education courses needed for a Bachelor’s degree. This is your chance for your child to discover what they are good at and get them ahead in the education game.
About Joy Elan: Joy Elan is an author of six books and she writes about various social issues. She received her BA in African American Studies at UC Berkeley and her MA in Education at Stanford University. She can be contacted at www.authorjoyelan.com.