By Mary Owen
It is called the Willamette Promise.
Its intent is to expand the opportunities for students in Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties to earn college credit during high school. The Oregon Department of Education announced the Mid-Willamette Valley Promise Consortium has received a $500,000 grant for a collaborative program.
North Santiam School District Superintendent Andrew Gardner said the grant will give students in the district a head start on their college coursework.
“Our intent is to use this new program to increase the total number of college credit hours SHS students obtain before they graduate and to increase the number of students who subsequently attend two- or four-year institutions,” Gardner said.
As well as college coursework, the grant will expand opportunities for students to complete career and technical education courses, leading to industry certificates and careers.
“Another major advantage to the Willamette Promise is that these opportunities for students will come at a significant cost savings for families,” the official announcement said.
The Willamette Promise will also serve as an impetus to establish a college/career-going culture in area high schools. It will provide post-secondary and career success visions for students after they graduate from high school, according to the ODE.
“In the coming year, it is hoped that we can offer as many as five new college classes that students can obtain credit through, with more in the subsequent years,” Gardner said.
The grant will be used to focus on establishing the coursework and assessments that each college class will need by the fall, training teachers to teach and assess the courses, and make sure that partner colleges agree that the courses are taught and tested at a level that warrants college credit.
“These courses will not allow students to graduate early, but will give them a head start as they begin college,” Gardner said.
The Willamette Promise was formed to create an educational environment that empowers all students to envision success.
It is a collaboration of the 20 school districts in Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties, Willamette Education Service District, Western Oregon University, Oregon Institute of Technology, Corban University, Chemeketa Community College and the South Metro-Salem STEM Partnership. More than 77,000 students will be served by the consortium, including those in the North Santiam School District.
“We believe it’s a great opportunity to increase the opportunities for Stayton High School students,” Gardner said.
“The grant will mean that we will have a year to develop the systems and a first set of classes, but will lay a foundation for an even greater number of classes into the future.”
