I attended “Breaking Ranks: The Role of School Leaders in Preparing All Students for Postsecondary Success” a panel discussion hosted by the Alliance for Excellent Education and the National Association of Secondary School Principals which featured high school and middle school principals talking about what they have done in their schools to raise student achievement and prepare their students for postsecondary and employment success. 

Of particular interest was the “School Counts” program at the Arkansas City High School in rural Kansas.  The school has teamed up with the local community college, area businesses, and the Arkansas City Chamber of Commerce to offer a work ethics certification program that teaches students “soft”, or employability, skills that they can use in the real world of work.  The Cowley County Community College has been very generous in their partnership – they are offering one semester of paid tuition for each year of the program that a student completes.  This means that a student who participates in “School Counts” for all four years of high school will graduate with two years of tuition paid for at the community college.  This is a great opportunity for students mired in poverty to attend college and further their skill attainment.

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