ANTHONY PARKER: High schoolers can get jump on college, careers

In approximately one month, we will notice caution lights that will require us to slow to 25 mph as we enter school zones. Large yellow vehicles will begin to deliver young people to schools. Some of those who rode the buses last year are looking for work, attempting to join the military or planning to enter college.

Too many of these recent high school graduates will seek employment and learn that they do not have the skillset to be employed above minimum wage. Others will start college (two- or four-year) with zero credits toward graduation. Still, others will learn that they can join the military, but will not get the military occupational specialty that they want.

These young citizens will need to start college this fall and complete a minimum of one year to find gainful employment. In other words, their gratification will be delayed until fall of 2017, at the earliest.

On the other hand, a few new high school graduates will be able to enter the work force immediately after high school in a rewarding field at a competitive salary. These students could be graduates of programs such as culinary arts, diesel mechanics, automotive, cosmetology, plumbing and air conditioning.

Some recent high school graduates will be able to compete for employment as they continue their education because they graduated from programs such as early childhood, accounting, hospitality management, industrial systems, drafting, visual communications and pharmacy technology. Others will earn associate’s degrees in civil and electromechanical engineering, biomedical and telecommunications and continue their education as 18-year-old college juniors.

The two groups of high school graduates are likely separated only by the attainment of a college degree, or certification during high school. Dual-enrolled high school graduates are more likely to begin rewarding careers at 18 years old at a competitive wage.

Move On When Ready graduates can work full- or part-time as a well-paid technician while they earn bachelor’s degrees. High school dual-enrolled graduates can reduce the time it takes to earn a bachelor’s degree by up to two years.

Several 2016 high school students from Dougherty, Lee, Terrell, Randolph and Calhoun counties have already earned an associate’s degree or its work force equivalent.

How many of our region’s high school seniors will earn a college degree by 2020? The answer is directly related to the number of freshmen, sophomores and juniors that dual-enroll during the fall of 2016.

There is few, if any, direct cost to the parents of dual-enrolled high school students. College enrollment through Move On When Ready will not reduce the FTE funding to public schools. MOWR students do not use their lifetime PELL grant award while they are in high school.

How many high school students riding yellow buses this August will be headed to college? It’s not too late, or too difficult, to get them started.

Anthony Parker is the president of Albany technical College.