The Horizon Project 2.0 is embarking on an ambitious and exciting program to increase high school and college graduation rates in Elkhart County and -- ultimately -- create more jobs.
The timing of the program's announcement last week couldn't have been better, as graduation rates were released Monday by the Indiana Department of Education. Local schools ranged from a low of 74.1 percent at Central to a high of 94.7 percent at NorthWood. The county's average is 84 percent, equal to the statewide average. However, most local high schools have seen consistent increases during the past three years.
Horizon wants to help Elkhart County students and their families begin building a strong educational foundation by making sure children have access to early childhood education beginning at age 2. The details have yet to be worked out, but it could involve the expansion of existing preschool programs and the formation of new ones.
Research shows that preschool programs benefit learning in elementary school. It is not, as critics argue, "state-sponsored day care." Many children, especially those in poverty, do not come to kindergarten prepared to learn. Making preschool available to all children would help.
The cornerstone of the Horizon plan, however, is allowing students at all seven county school corporations to take classes for college credit that would give them the equivalent of an associate degree or technical certificate when they graduate from high school.
The Horizon committee wants to fund a scholarship program to allow all high school students access to dual-credit courses. The specifics still need to be worked out.
At least some schools already offer a limited number of dual-credit classes, as well as Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate curricula that can give students a head start on college courses if they pass exams in their subject areas.
Money, of course, is the key to making Horizon's dreams become a reality.
Horizon officials, including County Commissioner Mike Yoder, are advocating either a countywide food and beverage tax or an increase in the Economic Development Income Tax, both of which would have to be approved by the Legislature. The benefits of a more educated and employable work force should outweigh concerns about tax increase over the short and long term.
There are many details still to be worked out, but Horizon 2.0 is definitely headed in the right direction with its education initiatives.