“According to the ECP website, in 2007 over 250 ECP graduates earned merit-based college scholarships. Colleges notice this.”

Built upon the radical idea that “challenge not redemption will make a difference in the lives of those who are least likely to attend college,” the ECP offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for high school freshmen to graduate high school with an AA degree–basically for free.

PRO
By Daniel Falk

Editor-in-Chief

For low-income families, this is a dream come true.

The National Educational Longitudinal Study reported that for every 100 low-income students who start high school, only 45 students–less than 50 percent–will enroll in college.

The ECP changes this. It costs nothing. All of the classes and coursework (except for the books) are free for ECP students. This is an exceptional benefit.

According to collegeboard.com, most college students–especially those entering a four-year–can expect to spend anywhere from $3,000 to $33,000 on tuition fees alone.

That’s not including room and board, food, books, class costs and the whole slew of other expenses that relate to college. So to go from $3,000 (on the low end) to enter college, to nothing–which is what the ECP provides–is no less than a blessing.

ECP students can expect to save thousands of dollars on college in the long run by taking this course.

But it’s not only about the money.

Even students with money aren’t getting into the college of their choice.

With California college admission rates at a puny 49 percent, students are doing all they can to get accepted into the college of their choice.

The ECP gives students a leg-up on the competition.

Because of the intense workload, ECP students are forced to work at a higher level than their peers.

And it shows; ECP students’ achievements far surpass those of their peers from a traditional high school system.

According to the ECP website, in 2007 over 250 ECP graduates earned merit-based college scholarships. Colleges notice this. They notice the achievements.

From the same year, from approximately 900 ECP graduates, 65 percent of the graduates were accepted into a four-year college. That’s well over the average college admission rates.

All of this begs a question, though: Aren’t the students too young to enter college? After all, they’re freshmen. It’s a valid concern, but consider this example.

From freshman year, IB students are put into a rigorous class schedule, designed to push their level of understanding to far higher levels.

The ECP does just that: it pushes students’ abilities to the max.

However, it may be surprising to know that, according to Principal Dr. Allan Mucerino, “in terms of difficulty, the ECP is no different than that of the AP or IB programs.”

The ECP shaves off two years from college, saves students money and gives them a leg-up in the college competition. The ECP is undoubtedly the best choice for all students wanting to get ahead.

CON

By Sarah Santoyo
Editor-in-Chief

“As 21 year-olds, students have a better handle on what they want to pursue than naïve seniors. The ECP will set them up for premature decisions.”

Forget freshman year being about coping with the fast-paced curriculum, having a first significant other, being excited to finally wear flip-flops to school, getting intimidated by big, hairy seniors, freaking out at how raunchy dances can get and getting to straighten your hair in the bathrooms at snack.

For 30 freshmen in ECP, they are not only starting high school, but also their first year of college.

Shaving off two years of college and graduating high school with an AA degree sounds enticing, but in reality the ECP gives these students an unrealistic college experience and a hindering jumpstart.

Oxymoron? Yes, but this so-called “jumpstart” actually puts these students behind.

The program takes away those years students need to have the “college experience” and to figure out what they want in life.

The two years of general education gives students the time and opportunity to explore majors and careers.

As 21 year-olds, students have a better handle on what they want to pursue than naïve seniors.

The ECP will set them up for premature decisions.

In the long run, students won’t save money because they will most likely want to change their major or be unhappy in the one they chose.

The last two years of high school are a maturing period.

According to a study in the October issue of American Psychologist, led by Laurence Steinberg, professor of developmental psychology at Temple University, adolescents have the intellectual skills to make informed choices, but may lack social and emotional maturity to control impulses.

Younger students will be more susceptible to peer pressure to fit in with an older crowd, which will force them to grow up too fast because they are in college before their time.

They won’t get to enjoy the last four years of childhood, freshman to senior year.

The workload and time devoted to academics will consume the last piece of their adolescence.

These last four years are the times we get to enjoy without worrying about bills or debt.

These are the last years we get to spend with childhood friends, moments to be cherished because they will never come back.

We can worry the rest of our lives about adult issues, but we only have 17 years to truly live carefree and unhurried.

Instead of ET and IVC partnering to cheat freshmen out of their adolescence and college experiences, they should focus on the big picture.

They should make sure all students are prepared for college and pay more attention in guiding them to paths of success considering CA is ranked 49 out of 50 in the latest education ranking according to “California at the Edge of a Cliff” by Thomas G.

Mortenson at the Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education.