The Academies of Central Arkansas announced the opening of the Baptist Health Academy of Medical Sciences at Little Rock Southwest Magnet High School on Friday.
Arkansas Business whispered about this partnership between Baptist Health, the Little Rock School District and the school on Monday. Little Rock School District Superintendent Jermall Wright called it a “game changer” for students.
In the upcoming school year, academy freshmen will have access to classroom speakers, guest lecturers and an event where Baptist Health and other central Arkansas businesses will showcase career opportunities. Sophomores will tour Baptist Health locations throughout the region. Juniors will be provided job shadowing opportunities, while Baptist Health and Little Rock Southwest will develop capstone projects and internship opportunities for seniors in 2023-24.
Baptist Health will also provide curriculum and credentialing advice; mentorship and expertise on project-based learning; and equipment and financial resources for the implementation of a medical sciences pathway of study. The health care provider will guide the creation of a regional industry council and school advisory board as well.
Teachers at the school will see additional professional development opportunities with Baptist Health, dedicated prep time to collaborate across disciplines and access to professional learning communities.
The Academies of Central Arkansas is a joint initiative of the Jacksonville North Pulaski, Little Rock, North Little Rock, and Pulaski County Special School Districts and the regional business community. In 2019, the districts, five chambers of commerce, and business and civic leaders began implementing the Ford Next Generation Learning model, which calls for opening academies like this one at all public high schools in the county.
“Our shared goal is to graduate Academy scholars who have the opportunity to earn concurrent college credit from a post-secondary institution and experience relevant learning while earning industry-recognized credentials and certifications which will propel them into a bright future – whether it be college, career, or both,” Little Rock Regional Chamber President and CEO Jay Chesshir said in the release. “The Baptist Health and Southwest partnership is the first example of how we’ll achieve that.”
The chamber is actively recruiting business partners for Southwest and other Academy high schools. Click here for more information.
“This partnership will allow teachers to tailor instruction and educational experiences to align more with student interests, which will aid in student engagement, high school completion, and preparation for college and/or career,” Wright said in Friday’s release.
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