Skyline to host Middle College: School districts to partner with San Bruno community college

The new program was spearheaded by Skyline President Regina Stanback Stroud and Ron Galatolo, chancellor of the San Mateo County Community College District and officials are still awaiting approval from the South City school district. In 2008, Skyline was in the process of starting a Middle College with the Jefferson Union High School District, but state budget cuts meant the high schools were no longer able to continue with the plan. Once the community college district became basic aid, it started up the conversations again, hired a director to oversee the planning and execution of the Middle College, officials said.

“I think Middle College is great,” said Patrick Lucy, trustee for the South San Francisco Unified School District. “Especially if it gives kids the opportunity to get other education outside of a normal school.”

A Middle College already exists on the campus of College of San Mateo. The program, which began in 1998, includes up to 35 juniors and 35 seniors, selected from among the students in the San Mateo Union High School District. Cabrillo Unified School District students may be eligible to participate in the San Mateo program with approval of the site administration.

The school boards from Jefferson Union High School and the San Mateo Union High School districts have already approved letting their students attend the new Middle College.

Currently, Skyline professor Raymond Jones is the new program’s interim director, who is helping to plan, develop and implement this innovative educational option for high school students.

“The research has shown students participating in the program (Middle College) tend to earn a high school diploma and graduate from college more so than their peers,” he said.

If approved by the South San Francisco Unified School District Board of Trustees, students who complete the two-year Skyline program could receive high school credits resulting in graduation as well as units in college courses leading to a Career Technical Certificate as well as a pathway toward an associate in arts degree and automatic transfer to the state’s university system.

Officials say Middle College at Skyline College offers a range of advantages to students, including a chance to complete high school and college credits at the same time for an associate degree and/or transfer. Students can get an introduction to and preparation for college life, expectations and requirements. It can allow for a smoother transition from high school to college, an ability to explore various careers and majors and understanding of the potential economic benefits of a postsecondary education. An accelerated pathway through college can also save students time and money.

“Looking at a young man coming at program at risk of not graduating on time, due to socioeconomic factors, he then has a high school diploma and 21 units transferable to CSU,” Jones said.

With the Career Technology Education certificate, students are be able to work at Kaiser Permanente upon graduate from Middle College, he said. Students get tuition free up to 11.5 units and this can save them $1,500 in tuition or more, he added.

The district board members, who took no action on the Skyline proposal at their Nov. 6 meeting, requested more detailed fiscal data from the community college. Skyline hopes to get approval from the South City school board by early 2015, Jones said.

More information on the potential Middle College program, go to skylinecollege.edu/middlecollege.

angela@smdailyjournal.com

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