Rochester, N.Y. - A new program is helping local high school students better prepare for college.
Monroe Community College, SUNY Geneseo, The College at Brockport, and St. John Fisher College are working with local high school teachers to find the best ways to reach students.
Leaders of the "Community Center for Teaching Excellence" say the goal is to help students bridge the gap between high school and college.
They are bringing together high school teachers and college instructors so they can help each other better align their curriculum.
Both teachers and students are calling the effort a success.
"In the past I would teach the material and tutor kids, what I'm looking to do today, with this particular project, is engage the students more - using 21st century technology, and some of the learning techniques that I've learned" said Samuel Simpson, a math teacher at All City High School in Rochester.
Simpson says he is available to help students around the clock, allowing them to call, text, or email him questions about homework assignments, or concepts covered in class.
It seems to be paying off. So far in the first marking period, none of his precalculus students are failing.
The goal now is to replicate that success.
Experts say college readiness is a major problem nationally and locally.
Right now, MCC is focusing on better preparing students for college-level math and English coursework.
There are 22 teachers participating in the program from the Rochester City School District and Rush Henrietta.
