Frankfort, KY. – Accessing higher education is no longer a dream for Shelby County High School students.

It is now a distinct possibility thanks to a formalized partnership between Shelby County Public Schools and Kentucky State University, said Dr. Mary Evans Sias, KSU president.

KSU and Shelby County Public Schools officials met Dec. 14 to sign an articulation agreement. It allows Shelby County High School students the opportunity to take classes online or on KSU’s campus and simultaneously earn high school and college credit for the class.

This is the first KSU-high school dual enrollment agreement of its kind, said Dr. Roosevelt Shelton, KSU interim assistant provost. The agreement allows Shelby County students to earn college credit at a reduced cost and strengthens alignment among high schools and colleges, thus making the transition easier for students.

KSU first broached the idea because Sias was concerned about affordability for students. By offering dual credit courses to high school students, KSU is affording students “access to higher education at a fraction of the cost,” Shelton said.

Though KSU offers the same services to other contiguous counties, Shelby County was the first that wanted to formalize its agreement. KSU hopes to formalize dual enrollment articulation agreements with all contiguous counties and surrounding school districts, Shelton said.

This agreement is one more way to help grow KSU’s dual credit student population, Shelton said. It also fully supports Kentucky’s vision for dual credit, which challenges all public high schools and all public postsecondary institutions to participate in a shared, seamless system of dual credit that supplementsthe high school experience and prepares students for success following graduation.

The articulation agreement will offer Shelby County High School students more opportunities their senior year, said Yvette Stockwell, Shelby County Public Schools secondary curriculum coordinator.

“For students who aren’t even thinking about college, this could get them in the door and encourage them to continue,” Stockwell said. “Many don’t even know what college is about. If we can get them (to college), they are 50 percent more likely to stay.”

Shelby County High School already has an agreement with Jefferson County Community and Technical College, which is just west of the school. Students can walk to the community college’s campus.

“Quite a few already take advantage of that, but we wanted to give them more options,” Stockwell said.

Shelby County also plans to partner with ITT Technical Institute in Louisville for those who want more technical, specialized courses, Stockwell said. However, transportation may be an issue because students may not have a way to get to Louisville.

Shelby County Superintendent Elaine Farris does not want transportation to be an issue for students wanting to take advantage of KSU’s programs, she said Dec. 14. She proposed offering transportation for interested students.

“I don’t want there to be any barriers,” Farris said.

Gary Kidwell, Shelby County High School principal, said the staff has talked to students about various higher education and virtual learning opportunities, but this will allow Shelby County students to have the opportunity to be on campus and to see what it is like to be a college student.

Already a number of students have signed up to take spring courses at KSU, Kidwell said. He expects the program to grow as more students learn about the program. Right now, Shelby County is working on scheduling to allow students enough travel time to and from Frankfort and time for class, Kidwell said.

Shelby County students also will be eligible to participate in summer programs on KSU’s campus and take advantage of other opportunities because of the agreement, Sias said.

“This will open up a lot of doors,” Sias said. “We expect this to be a model that can be replicated throughout the state.”

Kentucky State University has worked to provide access and opportunity to students for 120 years and will continue to do so through innovative initiatives and partnerships, Sias said.

“I know students are changing,” Sias said. “We are not getting as many traditional students anymore, the ones who come to us at 17 or 18. Students are engaged in lifelong learning.  But we also realize we no longer have to wait for them to come through our physical doors. We can come out and meet you where you are and then hope we can move you in our direction for full-time enrollment.”

Sias said she expects Shelby County High School students to be among the first to apply for enrollment this summer, but even if the students do not decide to continue with Kentucky State University after graduation, Sias said the university wants to ensure that students enroll in higher education somewhere and are prepared for that post-graduation experience.