The Poplar Bluff R-I School District is making dual-credit college classes accessible to a wider range of students by making them free from any tuition or fees.
By using federal COVID pandemic relief funds, the district is covering the one-third of the cost formerly incurred by students and their families for dual-credit classes through Three Rivers College.
“We want to aggressively expand our footprint in dual-credit courses,” said Dr. Scott Dill, superintendent of Poplar Bluff schools.
“As long as the funds last, we want to make it accessible for as many students as possible,” he said of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds approved by Congress in 2020 and 2021 as part of stimulus bills.
Dill said the district’s goal in using ESSER funds is recovering lost learning from the pandemic, expanding learning opportunities for all students and creating new opportunities for disadvantaged students.
“We know that poverty is an issue in the community,” said Dill. “ESSER funds enable students to explore dual credit regardless of their ability to pay.”
Dual-credit classes are taught cooperatively between Poplar Bluff schools and Three Rivers College. Students take college classes and receive both high school and college credit upon successful completion.
Three Rivers offers dual-credit courses at high schools throughout their Southeast Missouri service area, but this initiative enhances the relationship between the two schools.
“We are utilizing the amazing resources at our doorstep, including our excellent relationship with Three Rivers College,” said Dill.
Dr. Wesley Payne, president of Three Rivers College, agrees, saying, “This program will benefit our students and our community in part by letting students know that college is an attainable goal.”
“In an area like ours, cost is a potential barrier to attending college,” said Payne. “The PBHS program has the potential to greatly expand these opportunities.”
Mike Owen, principal of Poplar Bluff High School, said, “Kids are excited about it.”
He estimated around 100 students are enrolled in dual-credit courses now, but added, “We think those numbers are going to climb.”
Past costs for dual-credit courses were around $66 per class for tuition and books, but for the time being, there is no cost to Poplar Bluff students.
“Free really means free, and this is going to open the door for students,” Owen said.
Jacob Crawford is a PBHS senior taking English and math courses. He said, “It’s so much easier taking classes as a high school hour.”
“College gives you a lot more freedom, so it requires self-discipline to succeed,” Crawford said. “The fact that it’s free is a benefit for those who might not be able to pay.”
He plans to do four years in ROTC majoring in Social Work and then serve in the Army. He’s been accepted at the University of Arizona but is also considering attending the University of North Georgia.
“High school college hours look great on a college application,” he said.
Mike Owen said that in addition to earning college credit and saving money, dual-credit classes prepare students for their future in more than just academic subjects.
“College helps them to step out and stretch their comfort zone,” he said, “which helps them grow confidence and independence.”
Audrie Sievers, a junior at PBHS, is enrolled in the “College Now” program, which is designed to confer both her high school diploma and a Three Rivers College associate degree at same time.
“Dual credit is better than doing it on your own,” she said. “Because it’s offered at the high school, you’re not so stressed out.
“I wouldn’t otherwise have time to take college courses, so it’s very beneficial.”
She plans to attend Murray State University, where she intends to major in agriculture and become a teacher.
“Because it’s free now, other students should jump at the opportunity,” Sievers said.
In addition to the traditional academic courses such as English, math, science and history, both the high school and the college want to make technical and vocational courses available as dual-credit offerings.
Further cooperation is evidenced by the availability of TRC face-to-face classes and computer lab availability for online courses to PBHS students, who are transported from the high school to the college campus by the district.
The advantages of these classes are clearly articulated by all those involved.
“When students graduate and go to college full-time, the experience is not totally new to them,” Owen said. “Dual-credit classes help them be successful.”
Payne said in addition to the overall benefit that education adds to the community, “the early interaction with college creates pathways to make transition to college easier.”
Dill concurs, citing the district’s goal of not only ensuring students are school-sufficient but also life-ready.
“Our extension of formal learning will have untold benefits for at least a generation,” he said.