:: The 4th Era ::

by Jon Marcus

summary by Carnegie Perspectives

"A record number of students are getting a head start on college credits while in high school, cutting costs, and speeding toward degrees as quickly as possible. In addition to taking AP tests or dual enrollment courses, students are receiving college credit for life experiences, or skipping their senior years to attend early colleges. Some 1.3 million students took dual enrollment classes in 2010-11, according to federal data -- a 67% increase since 2003."

by Mabel Zhuang

"The Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) is a high school program in Kansas dedicated to teaching and fostering entrepreneurship. Run like an incubator accelerator, the program allows students to take an idea from inception to building a prototype. Some students even pitch their product to investors to obtain seed funding for further development. In addition, professionals in various fields mentor students as they go through the process of building their very own company from the ground up. Unlike a traditional high school, CAPS' focus is not only on preparing these students for a four-year university but also on preparing them to work in the 21st century global economy."