Studies indicate that high school students function better and achieve more academically when they don’t start classes early because their internal clocks are wired to keep them up late. The American Academy of sleep medicine says that adolescents who do not get enough sleep are more likely to perform poorly in school.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says that delaying school start times leads to a wide range of potential benefits, including regards to mental health, safety, and academic achievement.

Local school divisions have been discussing later start times for several years. Community input on the issue has mostly been positive. Chesapeake City Schools as for years had later start times for its senior and middle schools. School Board members there said the “thought has always been that older students are more alert when they start later”.

This week, Educationally Speaking has looked at the Fast Forward Grant, a state wide program provided to community colleges to bolster employment in critically needed areas. The program provides classes which lead to certifications especially in occupations deemed needed by local industry leaders. According to the bureau of labor statistics, people who held a certification or license had a lower unemployment rate than those who did not by over 2 to 1. Thousands of Virginians have enrolled in fast forward with a completion rate of 90% and the Grant provides an opportunity for training and certifications that enhance the opportunity for post high school employment. According to Emily Richardson, VP for Business and Corporate Solutions at Tidewater Community College, the need for additional training and education after leaving school, is critical to finding employment:

The Fast Forward Grant targets skilled trades and credential jobs for the region that are in critical demand. Participants can learn key competencies in these jobs and often go directly into the field. Emily Richardson at TCC explains the model for the Fast Forward Program.

Fast Forward provides classes which lead to certifications especially in occupations deemed needed by local industry leaders. According to the bureau of labor statistics, people who held a certification or license had a lower unemployment rate than those who did not by over 2 to 1. Thousands of Virginians have enrolled in fast forward with a completion rate of 90% and the Grant provides an opportunity for training and certifications that enhance the opportunity for post high school employment. According to Emily Richardson, VP for Business and Corporate Solutions at Tidewater Community College, the need for additional training and education after leaving school, is critical to finding employment. Further, the stigma once attached to skilled trades jobs is fading with a new awareness for these in demand well paying jobs.

Tidewater Community College is participating in a statewide grant program known as Fast Forward. Fast Forward grants offset tuition costs on select workforce training program and eligible students can earn an industry credential at 1/3 the cost of tuition for short-term training programs. The in demand skilled trades include many of the jobs that local industry leaders have been having difficulty recruiting qualified candidates for. However, according to Dr. Emily Richardson, Interim Associate VP for Business and Corporate Solutions at Tidewater Community College, there appears to be a new awareness for these in demand skilled workers.

The TRiO Program at Thomas Nelson Community College has targeted first generation college students in an effort to boost their chances of completing their college degree. Monica Pinier, a TRiO Advisor, discusses how the school tracks these students and offer early intervention for problems. Also, Anotnio Dill-Word, a 2019 graduate of Thomas Nelson discusses how the TRiO advisors helped him navigate the needed paperwork to enroll at the school.

Wednesday:

Antonio Dill-Word is a 2019 graduate of Thomas Nelson Community College. A former foster care student in High School, he left college after his first year. He reenrolled at Thomas Nelson and took advantage of their TRiO program with close academic advising and mentoring. He discusses the challenges he faced during his first year in college and how the advisors at Thomas Nelson became cheerleaders for his success. He has been accepted to William and Mary for the Fall 2019 term and plans on majoring in Psychology.

The Trio Program at Thomas Nelson Community College addresses the issues of first generation college students. Nationwide, less than 10% of first generation college students complete their college degree. TRiO is a federally funded initiative that provides close mentoring and academic advising. Thomas Nelson also works with the Great Expectations program which is aimed at students who previously were in foster care. Monica Pinier at Thomas Nelson discusses the success of the school’s TRiO Program

Higher education institutions today have two million fewer students than they did in 2009. Despite an increased push by high schools in tracking students into Advanced Placement and College Prep classes, the amount of students going directly into college is declining. This presents a generational challenge for students coming from homes where neither parent completed their college degree. Monica Pinier is a counselor in the TRiO Program at Thomas Nelson Community College. The federally funded initiative offers academic assistance and mentoring to first-generation college students. She discusses the challenges first generation college students face.

Under the ACT, the city of Hampton has created an outreach for skilled labor. Under the certified work ready initiative students and those out of school may earn the NCRC- a nationwide recognized credential. Also, students are able to receive college credit for their achieving the NCRC certificate. The Work ready initiative and the city public schools have a natural partnership in addressing the skilled trades gap.