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Idaho 8-in-6 an awesome program for students |
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May 24, 2017 |
School District 101 board member David Brinkman
was recently asked by another parent about the
Idaho 8-in-6 (Fast Forward) Program his
daughter, Liliana, is participating in at
Boundary County Middle School.
"This program is an amazing opportunity for
students," he replied. "They can begin it going
into seventh grade and by taking one additional
class each semester and two each summer. They
have the opportunity to maximize their college
credits taken during their high school
experience."
The 8-in-6 Program, approved by the Idaho
Legislature in 2012, allows students to take
accredited online overage and online summer
courses, paid for in part by the state, in order
to complete their required high school courses
at an accelerated rate and go on to earn college
credit while still in high school.
The title “8-in-6” refers to completing eight
years of education (two years of junior high,
four years of high school and the first two
years of college, university or professional
technical education) in six years (two years of
junior high and four years of high school).
Liliana has taken three high school credits
already as she prepares to enter the summer
prior to her eighth grade year. She will be
taking two more online classes this summer, two
more during the eighth grade and two the summer
prior to her freshman year.
"That is nine high school credits out of the way
before she walks into Bonners Ferry High
School," David said. "Add in her high school
math class next year (geometry) that she is
taking in district and she will be at 11
credits."
It's hard work, he warns.
"It takes time and it is harder than some of her
classes," he said. "It is a great opportunity
though."
Though he's a member of the school board,
neither he nor Liliana took advantage of any
"insider" information.
"I've been asked how she got into the program,"
he said, "in truth, it's just that I asked about
it. It is available to all of our kids who meet
academic standards and it isn't just for
incoming seventh graders. Students can take an
overload course one semester and then not take
one the next. They can just take them during the
summer. It has a variety of options. The option
that gives the most credit is taking two each
summer and one each semester."
To enroll, talk to the counselor at your child's
school. Work on a learning plan, available by
clicking here, and find out what
classes are available.
This summer there are two different terms: early
and late. The early term starts June 5 and goes
through August 18. The late term starts on June
19 and goes through September 1.
If you are not sure which class to take, visit
the website
https://www.idahodigitallearning.org and
click on the white tab labeled "Course Catalog."
Then you can look at the elective category and
click on each individual class that you are
interested in to read the course
description/overview.
You can learn more about the program
here.
"It's an incredible experience and a chance for
our kids in Idaho to advance beyond just the
traditional course load," David said, both as a
school board member and as the impressed father
of a motivated daughter. "Look into it if you
think your kid would be interested, no matter
what grade they are in." |
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