Photo courtesy of Jackson-Madison County School System
In a historic move, the Jackson-Madison County School System will shift its partnership with Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) to offer dual enrollment classes this semester. Welding, Automotive Maintenance and Light Repair, and Automotive Collision Repair at North Side, South Side, and Liberty are the initial courses to be included in dual enrollment for the 2021 fall semester. This marks the first time JMCSS has had dual enrollment classes with TCAT.
“The switch to dual enrollment with TCAT will allow students to start producing a transcript at TCAT Jackson while they’re still in high school. This also means that TCAT Jackson is certifying our teachers as adjunct TCAT Jackson faculty. The benefits for our school system will be realized in several different areas,” JMCSS Director of Career and Technical Education Dr. Nathan Lewis said.
By providing dual enrollment opportunities through TCAT, students can apply credit toward their high school diploma while simultaneously receiving hours toward their program certificate or diploma at TCAT. Students moving through the technical education pathway will earn college credit at an accelerated rate, tuition-free.
“This move expedites entry into the labor market for our students while also expanding the number of nationally recognized certification exams they’ll be equipped to master. It’s a significant expansion of opportunities,” Superintendent Dr. Marlon King said.
Moving into the spring semester of 2022, exciting new dual enrollment opportunities will be approved by TCAT. Courses such as Cybersecurity, Mechatronics, and Construction are on the horizon for students who want to capitalize on the benefits that dual enrollment affords. TCAT is continuing to work on adding additional classes for the fall of 2022, such as Patient Care Technician.
States Dr. Lewis, “The JMCSS Workforce Development Center at JCM-Early College High will add dual enrollment programs in Advanced Manufacturing and Welding in January, so every high school student in the district will have access to these TCAT dual enrollment offerings.”