Austin High School sophomores and juniors heard two more options to the standard post-secondary program Friday at an assembly about college course options.

AHS already offers three concurrent courses -- college-level courses that count for college credit, but are taught at AHS by AHS faculty -- but is planning to add 16 more concurrent classes for next school year.

It is also hoping to catch some students' interest with a program that allows students to enroll in vocational programs at Riverland Community College.

"We want our best vocational students to step forward and experience this," Principal Joe Brown said.

The additional college courses and the vocational program, called concurrent by contract, still need approval from the Austin School Board. Students register May 6 for next year's classes.

AHS, school district leaders and Riverland Community College have been working on the program since December. AHS also is looking to pick up a couple of concurrent classes from Southwest State University.

Riverland approves the instructors who teach the courses. The AHS teachers must have a master's degree in the subject they're teaching or be working toward a master's degree in that subject. They also may have a master's degree in another field as long as they have 16 graduate credit hours in the subject they are teaching.

The programs, however, aren't for everyone.

Only juniors and seniors can participate, just as in the traditional post-secondary option. Juniors must have at least a 3.0 grade point average. Seniors need at least a 2.5. Exceptions are made in rare situations. Of about 600 of next year's juniors and seniors, 242 are eligible to participate.

The concurrent by contract requires even more commitment. Some classes start at 7:30 a.m. and require six hours a day at the college. The students will still need to take their required courses at AHS. The Riverland program would cover their elective credits.

Joe Ott, counselor at AHS, said the programs are for a students who are self-motivated and responsible.

"If they're not doing that, it's not a good program for them," Ott said.

The concurrent by contract program will require some advanced planning to make sure the students meet their required courses, Ott said.

"If they don't, they would need to do summer school to get it in," Ott said. "A night class may be offered."

The college courses also are part of another change to phase out weighted grading. Grades are weighted more heavily for advanced placement courses, but the concurrent classes will not be weighted, Brown said.

"We're going to be eliminating weighted grading in the future," Brown said.

Students asked if the credits were guaranteed to transfer to their school of choice. Because the courses are a part of the Minnesota Transfer Program, public college and universities in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa will accept the credits. The courses are about 80 percent transferable at Minnesota private colleges, Brown said.

A student asked about colleges out of that area and Brown suggested she go over the course descriptions with the college to see if they would transfer.

Having the credits transfer will be a cost-savings for families, Brown said. One credit at Riverland, for example, costs $87, excluding fees, and an average class is worth three credits. Credits cost more at the University of Minnesota and at private colleges. Students could be looking at a savings of up to $20,000 if they take full advantage of the courses offered and if they transfer, Brown said.

AHS also will save money if the students decide to stay at AHS to earn college credit. When students chose to attend a college for post-secondary option, their state funding goes with them to pay for tuition and books. AHS receives $5,800 for each student and $409,000 went to colleges this year because of students who chose the post-secondary option.

But Riverland will be charging the school $2,000 a class next year. Currently AHS doesn't have that fee. That is still cheaper, however, than paying for a class full of students to take a course at the college.

Paying for the concurrent by contract option still needs to be worked out. Riverland is offering AHS a reduced rate on credits -- $50 a credit instead of $87, said Michael Bequette, Riverland senior vice president of academic affairs.

Students in vocational classes also need to purchase equipment, which can cost up to $1,700, depending on the program. AHS is offering to pay for the tools, but needs to work out how they will be paid for and who will keep the tools after the program is over, Brown said.

The success of the programs depend on how many students sign up. Brown is hoping they will be able to offer three sections of each course.

"I'm excited for our students," Brown said. "I think this is a neat opportunity."

Junior Emily Schminke is debating whether to go post-secondary

or to enroll in concurrent classes.

"It seems like I'll just kind of go with the flow next year," Schminke said. "It didn't seem hard to get into (the concurrent course)," she said.

Her friend, sophomore Sara George, said she thinks the classes are a good idea, but didn't think the courses should be paired up. Many of the classes require two semester college courses to meet a year-long requirement. George wants to take World History, but not the Human Geography class that is paired with it to meet the Global Insights requirement for 11th graders.

Both of the girls are interested in attending York Christian College in Nebraska and think the school will take post-secondary option classes.

Parents will be able to learn more about the programs at a post-secondary option meeting at 7 p.m. Monday at AHS.

Cari Quam can be reached at 434-2235 or by e-mail at :mailto:cari.quam@austindailyherald.com