Freeport Area School District is implementing a four-year plan aimed at ensuring students are college- and career-ready.
Career awareness will start as early as elementary school, with career exploration in middle school followed by more focused efforts in high school that will include experimental learning, job shadowing and coordinating a student's courses around career tracks in “high occupational areas.”
The administration has begun some of the groundwork, such as reaching out to businesses to form partnerships and broadening the district's college-in-high school and dual-enrollment programs. It will be several years before all of the components are in place.
“We need to be more deliberate in what we do,” said program director Larry Robb. “What's important is the transition we give kids from high school to college is seamless and for them to get a plan with a goal set.”
The district's plan encompasses three areas: college and career readiness, early childhood education, and STREAMM education, which encompasses the subject areas of science, technology, reading, engineering, arts, music and math.
“We know we have some gaps,” Robb said. “So we're going to put ourselves through that process to make sure that we're getting those skills for all kids at all grade levels.”
Part of the initiative is what administrators have dubbed “the fab lab.”
The lab would be a classroom in each building that would be open to all students so they can get exposure to things like robotics, 3-D printing, biomedical engineering and even 3-D dissection software.
Superintendent Ian Magness said they plan to set up the labs without additional funding by reallocating funds from other areas.
“We want our kids to be innovators. We want them to use the knowledge they glean from our classrooms,” Magness said. “It will bring rigor and relevance to our high school program, especially in technology education.”
The district also wants to improve its focus on early childhood education by hosting forums for preschool educators so program providers know what is expected from students in kindergarten at Freeport Area.
They also want to hold annual events focused on engaging preschool children so the kids are prepared and the transition into kindergarten is easier.
Board member Frank Borrelli said teachers already motivate students to do well and he is pleased to see the district will be giving students even more opportunities.
“Our students want to excel, and they are enjoying what they're doing,” he said. “And it's not just one teacher; it's teachers from grade school on up.”
Jodi Weigand is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at 724-226-4702 or jweigand@tribweb.com.
