Indiana high schools offer seniors a college schedule

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Some Indiana high schools are offering students the opportunity to enroll in a flexible college schedule in their senior year to better prepare them for their first year of college.

The Indianapolis Star (http://indy.st/2rkS1mf) reported students in at least six schools in Hamilton County and Indianapolis have the option of taking four college-level courses - such as Advanced Placement or Duel Credit - instead of filling their course load with seven classes.

School officials said the idea is to mimic the college environment and give students a chance to learn problem-solving, time management and independence.

"Our students are struggling at the college level with confidence in their independence," said Fishers High School Principal Jason Urban. "We have to trust them to be young adults, to be responsible, to be productive. Sometimes they're not, and we have to correct that, but we are going to treat them with trust."

Some schools also offer students opportunities to intern with local businesses or have renovated their campuses to give them a college feel. Other schools offer immersive monthlong classes or capstone research projects.

Schools are also focusing on the idea of student-driven learning.

"(Now) you will see teachers giving up their ownership of their classrooms," Urban said. "Instead of going through PowerPoint lecture notes, (they) would say, 'Here's the problem today, how are we going to solve it?'"

Many of the high schools making changes have hired additional counselors to make sure students can keep up with the rigorous schedules.

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Information from: The Indianapolis Star, http://www.indystar.com