Gov. Markell addresses high school seniors on higher education
It’s a special day when the governor of your state comes to visit your high school. But for Jack Markell, speaking to seniors, at Indian River High School, connecting with these young people, seemed critical at this time.
Governor Markell says, “One of the most important messages that I wanted to deliver today, is the message that I’m delivering across the state, is how much it matters that you stay focused until the very end.”
An appropriate message from a governor who is now rounding out his final term in office. Markell says, since his first year as governor, he’s worked alongside the state’s Department of Education to improve the higher education rate among students in the state.
As an example we’re told Indian River improved their AP scores dramatically. More than 75 percent of AP test takers received a qualifying score. Plus, the AP score averages in every category were well over the national averages.
“We are really excited about the progress that the educators have made over these last eight years whether its the advances in early childhood education or whether its the college access or the opportunities for high school students to learn skills that will be valuable in careers.”
Under his administration, schools in Delaware now provide SAT’s free of charge. And there’s the college access program.
“It’s an opportunity that were working with school counselors and students to help them with their college applications and to help them with their next steps whether its college or career or the trades or the military but helping them knowing there is life after high school.”
Sami Mumford is currently a senior at Indian River. And she tells 47 ABC she’s taking advantage of dual enrollment, another resource made available in the past few years.
It allows students to take college level course work while still in high school. Sami is taking two duel enrollment classes. “So when I go to college I’ll have a credit for sociology and a credit of anatomy already with me and I’m also taking a UD English and that will be another credit that I’ll have,” explains Mumford.
Sami won’t just be ahead academically , but also financially. Duel enrollment saves money and as the governor makes his way around the state, he’s reminding this latest round of seniors to take advantage of all of these incentives while they can.
