U-46 to host forums next week on new academy ideas
Elgin Area School District U-46 will host information sessions next week on plans for developing high school career academies ahead of a school board discussion June 4.
Administrators propose creating new academies or educational pathways providing all high school students the opportunity to experience more integrated and project-based learning. New academies could be established as early as the freshman class of the 2020-21 and enroll 400 to 600 students each.
Among the academy ideas under consideration: hospitality and tourism; government, public administration and safety, including ROTC (Reserve Officers' Training Corps); education, training and human services; business, management, marketing and finance; engineering; manufacturing, transportation, distribution and logistics; and health care sciences.
A recent presentation by district officials to the U-46 Citizens' Advisory Council has prompted numerous questions from parents about the career pathways being considered. Officials seek to answer them at the information sessions:
• 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in the auditorium at South Elgin High School, 760 E. Main St.
• 7 to 9 p.m. May 31 in the auditorium at Elgin High School, 1200 Maroon Drive.
• 7 to 9 p.m. June 7 in Room 130 at Bartlett High School, 701 W Schick Road. This session will focus on the planned government, public administration and safety academy, which includes ROTC.
All sessions will include time for questions from the audience. Spanish translation and activities for kids 5 and older will be offered.
For more information about the district's preliminary plans to expand smaller learning communities within its five comprehensive high schools, visit u-46.org. Additional informational sessions on academies will be scheduled this fall.