Sturgeon Public Schools is excited to announce that we have been selected by Alberta Education to receive $150,000 in dual credit start-up and enhancement funding. We look forward to utilizing this funding to grow our Dual Credit Program which, since its introduction to our Division in 2018, has provided students the opportunity to simultaneously earn both high school credits and post-secondary credits through Olds College and Lakeland College. Some of the courses include Introduction to Veterinary Profession, Agricultural Technology, Heavy Oil & Gas, and Sports Management. The Dual Credit program provides our students with a multitude of benefits including the ability to grow their resume, establish career connections, develop academic rigor, and market their job abilities. Having an early introduction to college level material also helps our students better prepare for the transition from high school learning to post-secondary learning.
$50,000 of the funding will be put towards our newest partnership with the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT). We are currently working with NAIT to develop Advanced Welding Diploma Courses; courses that have never before been offered to high school students in North Central Alberta. These Welding Diploma courses will be available not only to students within our Division, but to all high school students across the North Central region. The remaining $100,000 will be allocated to providing students with the necessary technologies needed to partake in the courses. The Division hopes to have these courses available to students beginning in February of 2023.