Escambia County High School has announced a dual enrollment agreement with Jefferson Davis Community College and Reid State Technical College. Students enrolled in the high school’s preparatory program will be allowed to earn college and high school credit for courses all at the same time beginning in the 2012-13 school year.

“For example,” ECHS Principal Zickeyous Byrd said, “senior students who would have ordinarily taken twelfth grade English can now take English 101 at Jefferson Davis Community College and earn both high school and college credit.”

Byrd, who has been working behind the scenes on the project since his arrival at ECHS three years ago, said he is proud to announce the agreement and is excited for what it will mean for his students.

“This is a major opportunity and accomplishment for our schools,” he said. “It has been a vision of mine to see this program in place and to be able to graduate students at commencement and hand them a high school diploma as well as a two-year college degree. This program will make it happen.”

Along with the new dual enrollment and dual credit program, ECHS will also offer another career technical program. Cosmetology will be offered during 2012-13 school year and Byrd said he has no doubt that there will be a waiting list for the new course.

An overview of the dual enrollment / dual credit program will be offered Tuesday, July 24, at 5:30 p.m. at the Jefferson Davis Community College Campus in Atmore.

“It is important for students and parents to be at this meeting because dual enrollment courses will be offered on campus at Jefferson Davis Community College,” Byrd said. “We will transport our students to the campus during regular school hours. It takes a lot of planning to go into this program and the best way to explain it is in an open session where parents can get all of their questions answered.”

A tour of the campus will also be provided.