Middle College Program
Encyclopedia
The Middle College Program is a high school
alternative program first established in New York. It is a collaboration between a high school district and a community college
for high school students who desire a more independent learning environment. Students take a combination of core high school courses and college courses to receive their diploma and graduate. Although students are required to take courses to fulfill their academic requirements, the students have a choice of a variety of classes to fulfill said requirements. Students are allowed to attribute the college credits earned in middle college toward their future college career after they graduate. The core classes are provided by teachers employed by the high school district, while all the college courses are taken with real college students at the community college. Many of the middle colleges in the United States today are funded by various organizations, such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
, along with the high school district themselves.
. It opened in 1974 as an alternative high school under the joint auspices of the New York City Board of Education
and LaGuardia Community College of the City University of New York. It was funded by grants from the Carnegie Corporation and the Fund for the Improvement for Post Secondary Education.
The original design for the school evolved from the work of Dr. Janet Lieberman, Professor of Psychology at LaGuardia, and a group of special educators who believed that a collaborative high school/college program could nurture the academic and psycho-social needs of at-risk urban youth with college potential.
The LaGuardia Middle College Program still exists today.
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
alternative program first established in New York. It is a collaboration between a high school district and a community college
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
for high school students who desire a more independent learning environment. Students take a combination of core high school courses and college courses to receive their diploma and graduate. Although students are required to take courses to fulfill their academic requirements, the students have a choice of a variety of classes to fulfill said requirements. Students are allowed to attribute the college credits earned in middle college toward their future college career after they graduate. The core classes are provided by teachers employed by the high school district, while all the college courses are taken with real college students at the community college. Many of the middle colleges in the United States today are funded by various organizations, such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the largest transparently operated private foundation in the world, founded by Bill and Melinda Gates. It is "driven by the interests and passions of the Gates family"...
, along with the high school district themselves.
History of the Middle College Program
The first Middle College Program began as a charter high school at LaGuardia Community CollegeLaGuardia Community College
LaGuardia Community College is a two-year community college located in the Hunter's Point section of Long Island City in the New York City borough of Queens, and is a component of the City University of New York. LaGuardia is named after former Congressman and New York mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia...
. It opened in 1974 as an alternative high school under the joint auspices of the New York City Board of Education
New York City Board of Education
The New York City Board of Education is the governing body of the New York City Department of Education. The members of the board are appointed by the mayor and by the five borough presidents.-Rise, fall and return of Mayoral Control:...
and LaGuardia Community College of the City University of New York. It was funded by grants from the Carnegie Corporation and the Fund for the Improvement for Post Secondary Education.
The original design for the school evolved from the work of Dr. Janet Lieberman, Professor of Psychology at LaGuardia, and a group of special educators who believed that a collaborative high school/college program could nurture the academic and psycho-social needs of at-risk urban youth with college potential.
The LaGuardia Middle College Program still exists today.