By Jeff Murphy, December 15, 2017
WARRENSBURG, MO (Dec. 15, 2017) – The Innovation Track concept that the University
of Central Missouri created to enable high school students to earn up to 30 hours
of college credit is being extended to the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District to provide
expanded degree completion opportunities in cooperation with Metropolitan Community
College – Longview. The partnership between the school district, MCC and UCM also
will provide high school juniors and seniors in Lee’s Summit with college credits
at limited or no cost to the students’ families.
The Innovation Track was approved by the R-7 Board of Education at its Dec. 14 meeting.
Also approved was district funding of the participation of Lee’s Summit R-7 students
qualifying for the federal free/reduced lunch program (based on family income) in
the Innovation Track as well as other dual-credit courses and International Baccalaureate
courses/exams. The new program is expected to go to the MCC Board of Trustees for
approval in January 2018. The UCM Board of Governors, MCC and Lee’s Summit R-7 will
also be required to approve a memorandum of understanding among the three partnering
organizations.
The R-7 Board of Education approved expenditures totaling approximately $396,402 for
the 2018-19 school year. This includes the following:
Sophomores and juniors at all three R-7 high schools will learn more about the program
in the next few weeks with enrollment for 2018-19 taking place Feb. 20, 21 and 22.
The Innovation Track is designed to offer the following to students:
In addition to saving students money and time, the Innovation Track has a number of
advantages for students and the partnering organizations. The credits earned by the
local students will be guaranteed to transfer from not only MCC to UCM but also to
virtually any public post-secondary institution in Missouri. The program is also designed
to attract students who are currently not enrolled in other Lee’s Summit R-7 dual
credit options.
Charles Ambrose, UCM president, emphasized the university’s commitment to the Innovation
Track program. Similar opportunities already have been created in cooperation with
public school districts in close proximity to the university’s Warrensburg campus.
The Innovation Track is an integral part of the Missouri Innovation Campus model that
extends beyond the highly specialized degrees offered at the new facility in Lee’s
Summit.
“We look forward to taking our collaboration to a new level of significance with the
Lee’s Summit R-7 School District and Metropolitan Community College on the Innovation
Track initiative as a guided pathway to help high school students get a jump start
on a college degree,” Ambrose said. “UCM launched its first Innovation Track program
with Warrensburg High School in 2016, and our goal has been to extend similar opportunities
to surrounding school districts.”
He added, “The R-7 School District and MCC continue to be exceptional partners when
it comes to innovative ways to make higher education more accessible and affordable.
This allows the value of the Missouri Innovation Campus to extend to all students
in Lee’s Summit.”
“The Innovation Track maximizes the partnership between Lee’s Summit R-7, Metropolitan
Community College and the University of Central Missouri to provide matriculation
in educational institutions that ultimately jump starts the college, workforce and
career opportunities for all students,” said Dennis L. Carpenter, Lee’s Summit R-7
superintendent. “This is good for students seeking a two-year or four-year degree
as well as students interested in workforce development. Ultimately, our entire community
benefits from the district’s commitment to providing multiple pathways for students
to leave us career and/or college ready. The board’s votes in support of the Innovation
Track and broadening students’ access to existing Lee’s Summit R-7 post-secondary
credit opportunities is demonstrative of the district’s commitment to our collective,
long-term viability.”
Bob White, R-7 Board of Education president, added, “We are grateful to be able to
enhance our partnership with MCC and UCM, especially the in-kind donation of MCC facilities
and student support systems as well as the reduced tuition. The Innovation Track provides
a collective advantage to our students, families, our community and our higher-education
partners. Students who participate in this option will have the opportunity to potentially
complete internships at an earlier rate than college peers and leave college with
less debt - all while fully participating in the high school experience.”
During early December, Lee’s Summit R-7 high-school students participated in a survey
to determine student interest in the Innovation Track. Of the 621 qualifying students
surveyed 71.4 percent indicated they would be interested in participating.
To qualify for the Innovation Track, students must have a high school grade-point
average of 2.5 and have scored 18 on the ACT college-entrance exam. Under the plan
approved by the Board of Education, the school district will pay the cost of tuition
and textbooks for students who qualify for the federal free/reduced lunch program,
which is based on family income. Other students in the Innovation Track will pay for
their tuition and books with MCC working to extend the dual credit rate for this special
on-campus program allowing them to experience a 50 percent reduction in cost. In addition,
the R-7 School District will begin offering scholarships for qualifying students for
a portion of the cost of non-MCC dual enrollment credit and a portion of the cost
of International Baccalaureate exams.
“From training our community’s workforce to preparing students to earn degrees and
certifications, MCC’s work today is at the heart of our community’s success tomorrow,”
said Kimberly Beatty, MCC chancellor. “This partnership is yet another example of
how working together can address educational access and equity challenges by providing
the entire community with access to higher education and higher earning potential.
I am excited about our future.”
Kirk Nooks, MCC-Longview campus president, added, “With our MCC-Longview campus embedded
in the Lee’s Summit community, I am proud of the educational ecosystem we have created
and the strong allies we have forged with the business community. We are honored
to work alongside such strong and valuable community partners.”
It is anticipated that up to 200 Lee’s Summit R-7 students will have the opportunity
to participate in the Innovation track in 2018-19. Plans call for the enrollment capacity
to increase in future years.
Families interested in the program will be receiving complete information from their
children’s high schools by early January.