Nonprofits Remove Barriers To High School Students Looking To Gain College Credits

Several organizations have partnered together to help students earn college credits while in high school.

"At the end of the day, what we want is to invest in students," said Anhna Vuong, President and CEO of The Foundation for Tulsa Schools.

Assistance League Tulsa and The Foundation for Tulsa Schools believe in removing barriers for as many students as possible.

"It benefits our community. It makes Tulsa better," said Kimberly Campbell President of Assistance League Tulsa.

They believe opportunities like concurrent enrollment at Tulsa Community Colleges shouldn't only be for students whose families can afford it.

"Concurrent Enrollment means that while you are a junior or a senior in high school- you can attend a university and be able to take a course that will not only allow you to graduate from high school, but also get credit for college," said Vuong.

Vuong says Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education pay tuition and TPS helps to pay for books.

"The only cost students would have is to pay the fees they would incur. At this point, our relationship with concurrent enrollment relies on Tulsa Community College. Their fees are $93 per course. If you have a student who wants to take two courses each semester that's $186 and for a working-class family, a poor family, 186 dollars is groceries," said Vuong.

Assistance League Tulsa and The Foundation for Tulsa Schools are partnering together to cover the fees associated with concurrent enrollment and eliminate barriers for some Tulsa students.

"Many of us are parents and grandparents and so you just know you always have to pay that forward. Children are our future, and we want to make sure we are in good hands as we get older. These are going to be the people who are going to be in charge of our community, and we want to support them," said Campbell.

TO SUPPORT:

http://altulsa.org/our-mission/

https://foundationfortulsaschools.org/