Polk County Early College students took center stage last week during a regional discussion panel with the RTI Early College Network, showcasing their educational experiences and contributing to conversations about the future of early college programs.
PCEC hosted the regional meetup Thursday with early college principals from Western North Carolina, including representatives from Buncombe, Catawba and Cabarrus County early colleges. Frank McKay, senior manager for research education with RTI, led the discussion.
Students, staff, PCEC Principal Dr. Kim McMinn and Polk County Schools Superintendent Todd Murphy participated in discussions about program elevation, desired outcomes and innovative approaches to high school and collegiate learning.
The Early College Network is a peer learning community of schools that utilize a dual enrollment strategy, allowing students to earn both high school and college credit concurrently. Since its inception in 2017, the ECN has convened principals, counselors, college liaisons and teachers to share best practices, learn from one another and advocate together to support student success in high school and beyond.
