[Source: Carl Holcombe, Arizona Republic] — The Arizona Business Education Coalition hopes to expand its Arizona Academic Scholars program into Pinal County school districts. The program encourages students to take a more-rigorous academic class load to help better prepare for college and skilled jobs. ABEC hopes to combine the federal program with Central Arizona College’s Promise For The Future program, which also encourages high academic standards.
Students who sign up for the Scholars program and complete a four-year program of science, math, history, English and two years of a foreign language with at least a “C” in every class can achieve Arizona Scholar status. Arizona Scholars who qualify for Pell Grants get an extra $750 as freshmen and up to $4,000 as juniors and seniors if they major in a field related to science, math, technology or a language not commonly studied by students. CAC’s Promise For The Future encourages Pinal County eighth-graders to sign a contract that will earn them free tuition at CAC campuses for their first two years if they graduate from high school with at least a 2.75 GPA. At CAC, they must then maintain full-time student status and a 2.5 GPA.
For the Scholars program, a school district must sign up for the program. Parents can check with their school districts. For details, click here or call (480)730-1087. For information about the Promise For The Future program or to enroll, contact CAC by e-mail or (520)-494-5020.