Key factors:
As an educator, I’m constantly trying to find methods to present my college students a leg up. After I found Trendy States, a philanthropic group providing free on-line programs that give any pupil the prospect to study college-level content material, I knew it might be transformative for my college students.
There are many totally different ways in which highschool college students earn school credit score, however probably the most highly effective can be one of many least recognized. I first realized of the School Stage Examination Program, a set of standardized assessments created and administered by the School Board because the Sixties, once I was in school myself. CLEPs assess college-level data and passing scores on the exams are accepted as credit score at greater than 2,900 schools and universities. I took two CLEP exams, and the credit I earned saved me money and time as I labored towards my diploma.
Immediately, working in each a state and a college dedicated to serving to college students earn school credit score earlier than commencement, I noticed a world of alternative in Trendy States, which debuted in 2017. The group created a library of 32 on-line programs, taught by school professors and designed particularly to organize learners for CLEP exams. Learners can take courses after which use the CLEP exams to show their studying and finally obtain credit score. Right here’s how I’ve integrated its programs into my classroom, together with some suggestions for educators trying to broaden alternatives for his or her college students:
Begin small and map it out
After I first realized about Trendy States, I used to be excited but additionally overwhelmed. My fellow lecturers can attest to how a lot all of us have on our plates, so including new materials is daunting. It took me wading in and actually inspecting how the course modules aligned with my very own Social Research curriculum to determine incorporate it greatest. After immersing myself, I simply developed a plan that introduced collectively the Trendy States course materials with every of my courses. This allowed me to seamlessly combine preparation for the U.S. Historical past I CLEP examination into my current courses, as an alternative of treating it as a separate job.
I additionally make Trendy States (and taking the CLEP check) non-obligatory for my college students–however I do give additional credit score for passing the examination. I take grades on module completion, however I exempt college students who select to not take part.
My recommendation? Begin with one topic, join the Trendy States content material to your educating objectives and your pupil’s studying objectives, after which broaden when you all can see the worth.
Construct buy-in by way of tales and expectations
After we first focus on Trendy States and CLEP, I hear from lots of my college students that they don’t perceive what the exams are or why they need to take them. I share my very own story: How I found CLEP in school and wished I’d recognized about it sooner. Framing it as a possibility to avoid wasting money and time helps college students see the worth.
Encourage confidence by way of preparation
I set excessive expectations in my classroom, making a tradition the place college students rise to the problem. Ardour and perception of their potential go a great distance. Some of the rewarding facets of utilizing Trendy States is seeing college students develop in confidence.
Make CLEP testing obtainable at your faculty
After I first took this on and it was time for my college students to take a seat for his or her exams, they needed to journey to native CLEP testing facilities. Whereas that sounds easy, it creates yet one more alternative for college students to opt-out, be late, or miss their alternative. After we realized the worth of CLEP and Trendy States, I labored with my assistant principal on opening a CLEP check middle at our faculty to make it easy and acquainted for college students to check. It was surprisingly simple to arrange and now college students can take their exams in the course of the faculty day with out having to rearrange transportation to a check middle.
This accessibility removes important obstacles and it’s one of many causes so lots of my college students are succeeding. In case your faculty isn’t a CLEP testing middle but, I encourage you to discover the method. It’s easier than you may assume and may make a world of distinction.
I couldn’t be prouder about what my college students are reaching. On the finish of final semester, 100% of my college students who took the U.S. Historical past I CLEP handed, and 92 % handed U.S. Historical past II–that’s 30 of my college students incomes school credit score without cost. Thus far, almost 700,000 learners have taken Trendy States programs, with 150,000 CLEP exams tried for an estimated tuition and payment financial savings of almost $200 million. Understanding my college students are a part of these outstanding achievements makes their success much more significant.
Trendy States has been a vital device in my classroom. It’s given college students an reasonably priced, accessible pathway to larger training. By opening doorways to school credit whereas nonetheless in highschool, college students acquire a robust head begin on their journey to larger training and future success.