Cafi Cohen, author of Homeschooling: The Teen Years and Homeschoolers' College Admissions Handbook, said, "At a recent graduation ceremony for Florida State homeschoolers, the emcee read a short description of each of more than forty teenagers receiving diplomas. More than 90 percent of them had taken college classes concurrent with their high school homeschooling. Several had accumulated more than a year’s worth of college credits."
Cafi Cohen interview | "College at Age 13"

Sue:
There are an increasing number of these programs around the country and we wanted to find out more about them. We decided to start out in our own backyard and took at look at the community college in Charlotte, NC. Even if you don’t live in Charlotte, it may give you some ideas to try to find similar things in your own community.

CPCC (Central Piedmont Community College) in Charlotte, NC is a member of the prestigious League for Innovation in the Community College, a consortium of 20 of the nation’s finest two-year colleges. We approached the President of the college, Tony Zeiss and asked him a few questions about his program for high school homeschoolers called "Concurrent Enrollment".

This program allows high school homeschoolers to take college courses, while they are in homeschool high school. The credits are real college credits that are transferable. Concurrent Enrollment students may take any course available in the current college schedule. Many students are able to use this alternative path to accumulate enough credits to bypass the entire regular admissions process for four-year colleges. Instead they "transfer" to other colleges using the credits earned at the community college. Usually it takes about 30 or more college credits to do this.

For those "worried" about the social skills of homeschoolers, Liz Kroboth, a homeschooled high schooler was enrolled in the Concurrent Enrollment program. She wanted to get involved in student politics. She served as student body president 2000-2001!!

Sue:
We asked President Tony Zeiss
a few questions about his program.
Thank you for joining us!

CPCC's Concurrent Enrollment program is a wonderful education opportunity for young adults. When did CPCC start to offer this program and how was the idea developed?

Zeiss:
Concurrent enrollment is a statewide program initiated January 1, 1987 and codified in NC General Statutes Subchapter 2C, section. 0305. According to the guidelines, a high school student, 16 years or older, based upon policies approved by the local public or private board of education and board of trustees, may be admitted to appropriate courses, except adult high school, concurrently under the following conditions:

1. upon recommendation of the chief administrative school officer and
   approval of the president of the college;
2. upon approval of the student's program by the principal of the school and
   the college president;
3. upon certification by the principal that the student is taking the
   equivalent of one-half of a full-time schedule and is making appropriate
   progress toward graduation.

The law states that high school students "shall not displace adults but may be admitted any semester on a space-available basis to any curriculum or continuing education course." Once admitted, these students are to be treated as all other students.

In addition, local board of trustees and school board may establish cooperative programs to provide college courses to qualified high school students. College credits shall be awarded upon successful completion. These cooperative programs must be approved prior to implementation by the State Board.

Sue:
Many of the students in your Concurrent Enrollment program are homeschoolers. What do you think are the benefits for homeschoolers in taking this program?

Zeiss:
Most home -schooled students benefit from the small classes and diverse population at our CPCC campuses. Perhaps many home-schooled students come to the Concurrent Enrollment program as their first educational experience outside the home environment. The opportunity to follow their educational interests and to learn in a collegial environment is a tremendous benefit. Not to mention the opportunity to start their college education while still in their high school years.

Sue:
Recently you had a homeschooled student in your Concurrent Enrollment program who wanted to participate in CPCC's student government. This is a very good way for young adults to learn and participate. How do you see the role of the Concurrent program influencing the growth and development of students?

Zeiss:
Yes! Liz Kroboth served as our student body president 2000-2001. She was home-schooled and was very prepared for this leadership role. She served on our board of trustees and had to learn to move with ease from working with peers to working with some of the community's top leaders and policy makers.

Any student would profit by serving on our student government. Another former student government leader who was home schooled comes to mind. She was April Prenninger. Like Liz, she was an excellent student, well prepared for life, a good thinker, and received a full scholarship to George Washington University for her junior and senior year.

Concurrent enrollment will give home schoolers an early collegiate experience and will help prepare them for higher education in a practical and beneficial manner. It is the best tool for preparing students for their college life to come, and they will already have achieved some college credit before their freshman year. My son, for example, had 11 credits before being graduated from high school. These credits, like most here at CPCC, will transfer to all public universities.

interview with Liz Kroboth

Alternative Paths to College
Faces of Home Education