NPS to offer associate degrees through Tulsa Community College

Nov. 29—Norman Public Schools will offer associate degrees starting in 2024-2025 school year.

The district has teamed up with Tulsa Community College to offer an associate of liberal arts, which Nick Migliorino, district superintendent, said would benefit high school students for generations to come.

The announcement came at the district's State of the Schools address at the J.D. McCarty Center for Children with Developmental Disabilities Wednesday afternoon.

"In Norman Public Schools, we are constantly looking for innovative ways to best serve our students and prepare them for life after graduation," Migliorino said. "I am so incredibly excited about this program and cannot wait to see our first group of students walk across the stage in May 2026 to receive both their high school diploma and associate degree."

Kristi Gray, director of gifted advanced placement, said the district has been planning to offer an associate's degree for a while.

"We looked at changes in our demographics as more students are qualifying for our free and reduced lunch, and as the cost of college continues to rise," Gray said.

Migliorino did not announce what percentage of district students receive free or reduced lunch as the number is still being tabulated, but he expects it to exceed last year's percentage, 57.29%.

"The number of students qualifying for free and reduced lunch got high last year, over 57% of our students, and we've seen that number stay over 50% over the last five years, and it's not going down," Migliorino said.

The total cost of the associate's degree is nearly $5,500 over the two-year period. Families will be expected to pay by semester to the amount of $3,000 for the first year, and $2,440 for the second year.

Gray said the district is looking to offer scholarships for students who can't afford the tuition.

"The district is looking for sources for scholarships to help students because we definitely do not want that to be a barrier for anyone," she said.

The associate's degree will require students to take 60 credits worth of classes with a college professor, and the district will accept those credits for high school graduation. Students will take classes virtually with TCC professors during and after school.

"These professors know they are working with high school students, and they will definitely tailor their classes a little bit differently," Gray said. "We will have a facilitator at our high schools that the students will report to that particular room. They will have an adult there to supervise them, but the actual classes will be taught by the TCC professor."

She said the change has the potential to free up classroom space for upperclassmen who do not want to attend college classes, which would reduce class sizes.

Larry Heikkila, Norman mayor, called the idea "absolutely brilliant."

"The opportunity for students to push their own learning envelope, the opportunity to earn a credential that will give them an edge when applying for jobs after graduation is wonderful," Heikkila said. "To add that wonderfulness is that it helps parents save money on college tuition."

Gray said the degree can be applied for students attending the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, and the University of Tulsa.

"Even though they will have the years of an associate's degree, they will go into college as an incoming freshman and still be eligible for freshmen scholarships and living in dorms, but they'll be able to take upper level classes," Gray said.

Dirk O'Hara, NPS School Board president, said he looks forward to giving students another opportunity to get ahead in school.

"Many kids would be perfectly fine going on to college and are not afraid to try," he said. "This gives students a chance to try college while they still have the extra support from Norman Public Schools."

Annette Price, NPS School Board member, said the program will open up doors for kids who wouldn't normally be able to afford a college degree.

"Earning an associate's degree while still in high school will be life-changing for any young person, particularly for those who never dreamed they could afford the time or money to attend college," she said. "Norman is always seeking and embracing innovative ways to build pathways to college and careers, and our students are excited about the opportunity to jumpstart their future."

Gray said students will receive more supervision at the beginning of the semester, and they can earn more freedom as they succeed to work independently.

"We are calling this a gradual release of responsibility," Gray said. "And if they start to struggle, we'll pull back that freedom and offer more supervision."

She said some classes will be taught completely online without scheduled lectures. She said because pods of students will all be taking the same classes together, they will create a community that will support each other.

To support online lectures, the district will also invest in Zoom TVs.

"For online live courses students can participate collectively as a class with the facilitator," Gray said.