ARC an alternative path to graduation Ideally, every student works hard starting the first day of high school. They give their best each day, knowing they must answer to their parents if they don’t meet expectations. In this scenario, all students complete their homework faithfully, prepare adequately for exams, earn academic honors, and graduate on time. Unfortunately, in the long history of formalized education, that’s never happened. For many different reasons, educational progress has evaded a certain percentage of students and, ultimately, the goal of graduation slips away. Today, programs exist that offer students a chance to get back on track before falling too far behind. Alternative to Recovering Credits (ARC) in District 218 has proven itself as an academic U-turn. Offered after school, ARC classes allow students to earn credits and remain on schedule to graduate on time. “Mostly, students are enrolled in ARC because they have become deficient in credits,” said teacher Pete Hernon, who manages the program at Richards. “However, these students have seen the error of their ways, and they are willing to make an effort in order to make amends for their previous failings.” This year, 65 students graduated after making up credits through ARC. Another 86 completed classes and advanced toward graduation. Hernon has found that the program works because students must take responsibility for themselves. “It places the onus on the students to complete the work in order to succeed. Frankly, the students were not successful in a classroom setting, but a majority of these students are largely successful in this learning environment,” he said. ARC allows students to earn credits, up to two classes per semester, after school. Classes meet Monday through Thursday. Parents pay a $50 fee for each extra class through ARC. “These students must essentially re-teach the material to themselves and prove mastery of concepts by successfully completing a large number of assessments,” Hernon said. “This student-centered approach usually works well with these students’ strengths.”
Posted on: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 17:06:16 +0000
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