Boards from McCracken and Marshall county public schools signed an agreement to partner, develop, and implement a Middle College on the campus of West Kentucky Community &
Technical College.

The Middle College model attempts to remove barriers to college access and success by blending high school and college into a seamless educational program. Selected students will have the opportunity to accelerate their education by earning up to nine college credit hours
per semester as they also complete requirements for high school graduation.   

"The Middle College will allow high school faculty and college faculty to align the curriculum so that students truly experience a seamless education," said WKCTC President Barbara Veazey.

Students will come on the college campus and take high school classes at the Middle College while also being enrolled in WKCTC courses.  The program will begin in Fall 2009 with 50 students - 20 selected from Marshall County High School and 30 from high schools in McCracken County.

"We're thrilled to be forward thinking in providing additional opportunities for our students," said McCracken County Superintendent Tim Heller. "We're constantly trying to do the best we can for our students, and this is certainly a step in the right direction."

One of the advantages of the Middle College is to allow students to achieve college credit during high school while also having the opportunity to complete a minimum of 36 college credits - free of cost. Tuition and some of the cost of books will be covered through a unique
public and private partnership, which will result in a savings of at least $5,000 for each student.

A funding request has been made to the Lay Family Foundation, a private family foundation located in St. Louis, Missouri, for more than $600,000. Without private dollars, this unique opportunity could not exist, school officials said.  Paducah Junior College, Inc., the foundation of WKCTC, will serve as the fiscal agent of the Lay grant.

Officials are excited about the collaboration that will give selected students a different learning environment to thrive in. "This is the opportunity of a lifetime for our students," said Marshall County Superintendent Ruth Etta Buchanan. "We feel this initiative will enable more students than ever before to be successful in college."

A celebration launching the Middle College will be held at 3:30 p.m. April 17 at WKCTC's Nemer Building.