Biden Administration Celebrates Classroom to Career Programs in Guilford County

By Gabrielle Brown

Greensboro, N.C. – On Monday, First Lady Jill Biden visited Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC) Greensboro Campus, where she delivered remarks and hosted a roundtable discussion with state and local leaders, educators, and students to spotlight federal, state and local efforts to provide career-connected learning to high school students. 

North Carolina is a leader in dual enrollment through its College and Career Promise (CCP) program. The program allows high school students to dually enroll in local community colleges and other public universities tuition free. This school year, Guilford County Schools (GCS) saw a 46% increase in dual enrollment compared to a 12% increase statewide. Nearly 2,000 GCS students are taking advantage of this unique opportunity, earning college credit, certificates, diplomas and valuable skills that set them up for success.  

As a classroom teacher, Dr. Biden has advocated for increased educational opportunities for students, including career-connected learning. During her visit, she met with GCS students, including Giovanni Robinson, a fourth-year student at The Middle College at GTCC-Greensboro, and Teniola Oladunjoye, a fifth-year student at The Middle College at GTCC-Jamestown, who shared their experiences about being dually enrolled in GCS and GTCC. 

Robinson serves as president of his school’s student council and plans to complete his Associate of Science degree. Oladunjoye will graduate with her high school diploma and an Associate of Science in May. She has committed to further her studies at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill this fall.  

“When I first started, I wanted to major in Biology. After taking one biology class, I realized that it wasn’t for me,” Oladunjoye said. “Taking classes at GTCC helped me hone in on what I really want to major in, which is science.” 

Research shows that students in North Carolina’s CCP program were more likely to graduate high school and more likely to enroll in college compared to their peers. This highly successful program not only helps students learn about and prepare for college or the workforce by doing so while still in high school creates a significant cost-saving benefit for students and families. According to GTCC, GCS students who have earned a credential through CCP have saved more than $670 million in the fall of 2022 and more than $630 million in the spring of 2023. Dr. Biden says the Biden Administration seeks to make this a reality for high school students across the country through the Classroom to Career proposal, which partners with states, giving students an opportunity to take community college courses in high school. 

“North Carolina has been a leader in providing those opportunities and is exemplary in transforming high school into a place that prepares students for jobs,” Dr. Biden said. “It’s what we need to do today to open up all the possibilities of tomorrow – for our young people, our communities, and our country. This is going to change lives, lift up families, and grow our economy.” 

In 2019, the state set a goal of having two million workers hold a post-secondary credential by 2030. GCS is doing its part to make sure it reaches that goal. The district has increased the number of industry-recognized credentials exponentially over the last three years. Last year, students in the district earned more than 8,000 credentials that helped them compete and succeed in the global marketplace, a 178% increase since the 2020-2021 school year.  

The district is committed to creating seamless transitions from high school to college and the workforce. Through partnerships with businesses and higher-education institutions like GTCC and other local universities, graduating GCS students interested in a career in STEM and advanced manufacturing can participate in the F.A.M.E. (Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education) Program. For two years, students take 15-17 credit hours, attend class two days a week and work three days a week at a sponsoring employer’s location.  

“The College and Career Program is preparing students to compete in a global economy, giving GCS students an edge that sets them years ahead of their peers,” Dr. Oakley said. “By working together - educators, businesses and government officials, we can ensure that North Carolina is not just the number one state for business, but also the number one state for education.”