This spring, 14 Franklin High School (FHS) students earned their Early Childhood Education certificates from LRCC. Eight of the seniors will walk in LRCC’s graduation ceremony, celebrating a milestone typically reserved for college students. Two additional students completed some of the courses in the program.
To receive the certificate, students must complete four courses:
- Growth and Development of the Young Child
- Infant/Toddler Development
- Health, Safety, and Nutrition
- College Essentials
FHS Principal David Levesque recalls how the collaboration began. “This process started for us three years ago when we only had one math teacher and one science teacher. I reached out to LRCC president Patrick Cate and we met with parents and started putting together ideas and courses that would fit our students. The initial conversation was really about science. LRCC created a class just for our FHS students and we drove students to LRCC and back a couple times a week.”
What began as a solution to staffing challenges quickly grew into a robust academic partnership. FHS now integrates LRCC courses directly into its program of studies, building student schedules around classes in biology, chemistry, and quantitative reasoning.
Expanding Opportunities Through Early Childhood Education
“All of that evolved into us thinking about what else we can do here for our students and that’s where the Early College Education classes came in,” Levesque continued. “LRCC was gracious enough to cover that cost for our students and so now we have 14 kids earning the Early Childhood Education certificate. That, for us, is a home run.”
The students feel the same way. Aubrey Boisvert shared, “I think I just wanted to challenge myself more. I wanted to push myself to go further and take the next step. And get ready for college.”
Nazlie Taban added, “I took the courses because I wanted to take more rigorous classes than the average, standard level. I also wanted to improve my work ethic when it comes to classroom work. Taking the college courses has made me a lot more disciplined.”
Students Helping Shape the Curriculum
The program’s success is also due to the students’ active involvement. “The students have really been the anchors in developing the curriculum,” said Jamie Smith, Franklin High School educator and LRCC instructor. “I put the standards up and they tell me what they want to do and we create it from there. I’m always in contact with Diane Lewis, Early Childhood Coordinator at LRCC. It’s been a learning experience for all of us which is great.” Smith also serves as the FHS Climate Specialist and ELO Coordinator, supporting students in building pathways that connect school to real-world experiences.
“This is the first time College Essentials has been taught at the high school level,” added Smith. “Steve Freeborn, Liberal and Professional Studies Department Chair at LRCC, came to observe the class and we had a great discussion with the students about what’s better: in-person, online or hybrid.”
Encouraging Future Participation
Students hope their peers will take advantage of the opportunity. “I would recommend taking Early College classes as soon as you can,” said FHS student Heidi Cayton. “If you’re indecisive like I am, branching out into different fields you are interested in can be really helpful. When you get to college and pick a field, you’ll know what you’re getting into.”
Payton Cloutier echoed that sentiment. “I would recommend taking the LRCC classes. A lot of people think they are scary or that they are going to be so hard, but I learned that they’re not. As long as you’re staying on top of your work and your studies, you will be okay.”
A Financial and Academic Head Start
The benefits extend beyond academics. FHS students received three free LRCC classes during their sophomore, junior, and senior years — allowing them to earn up to 27 college credits at no cost.
As Boisvert put it, “Getting a jumpstart and getting most of your general education classes for free is such a timesaver and money saver. I would say definitely do it.”
And for seniors who will walk in LRCC’s commencement, the experience is especially meaningful. “It’s an honor to be able to walk at LRCC graduation because you know that you’ve earned something that you can use in the future,” said Cloutier. “We’ll be able to compare the two – a high school graduation vs. a college graduation.”
Looking Ahead
The students’ next steps are as varied as their interests. They’re heading to Colby-Sawyer, Keene State, Western New England University, and more, pursuing majors such as history, secondary education, child psychology, and law. One junior is even graduating early to begin a full-time position at a local daycare center.
Principal Levesque sees the momentum building. “The interest is rising every year so we’re thoughtfully putting these types of certificate and credit opportunities into our schedule. We had students earn 270 college credits last year and we’re closer to 400 college credits this year. In a small school that has a lot of challenges it’s pretty powerful to see them leaving here with that opportunity.”