Two local schools land grant

By Staff
Jason Cannon, FCT Publisher
Two Franklin County schools will share in $110,390 awarded yesterday by the U.S. Department of Education to Northwest-Shoals Community College (NW-SCC) for the Northwest-Shoals Area Tech Prep Consortium 2006-2007 school year.
The Franklin County Career Technical Center and Russellville High School Career/Tech will reach receive $10,000 that is designed to help and enhance technical education.
"We are very excited about the Tech Prep funding this year. It has increased over $41,000 since last year" Kym Robinson, NW-SCC Public Relations Specialist and Tech Prep Coordinator said.
The money earmarked for Franklin County Career Technical Center is budgeted for equipment for cabinetry and cabinet making and computers.
Russellville's funds are budgeted for technical equipment and other supplies.
The grant, which reimburses 10 consortium members, including Franklin and Russellville, is used to aid schools with technology and career exploration purchases as well as workshop and seminar related travel expenses.
All Tech Prep Consortium member school systems have articulation agreements with NW-SCC so that students are given the opportunity to earn college credit while earning high school credits that count toward graduation.
According to Robinson, the Consortium partnership is beneficial to all those involved.
"The articulation agreements that are cultivated by the Tech Prep Consortium provide an excellent opportunity for students to obtain college credits while in high school," she said. "The Consortium makes it possible for NW-SCC's instructors and area high school instructors to meet and discuss their curriculums therefore best meeting the needs of the students."
Students enrolled in articulated courses can earn up to a semester of college credit at no cost to the student without leaving the high school setting. In order to be eligible to receive articulated credit, a student must earn a "B" average in the completed high school coursework.