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Contact: Steve Simon, 240-567-7952; Elizabeth Homan, 240-567-7970

MEDIA ADVISORY

 Montgomery College Selected to Replicate Successful Portland, Oregon Program to Serve High School Drop-Outs or Those on the Verge
College President, School Superintendent, County Executive to Announce Initiative

Monday, Nov. 17, 2003
2:30 p.m.

Montgomery College, Rockville Campus
51 Mannakee Street
South Campus Instructional Building, Room 115

Montgomery College has been selected as one of the first two institutions in the nation to replicate the success of a groundbreaking Early College High School program pioneered by Portland Community College in Oregon.  Montgomery College President Charlene R. Nunley and Montgomery County School Superintendent Jerry Weast, along with County Executive Doug Duncan, representatives of the Portland program and other officials, will announce the initiative.

The "Gateway to College" program serves young people between the age of 16-20 who have either stopped attending high school or are on the verge of dropping out.  It allows such students to participate in a personalized and intensive program that leads both to high school completion and attainment of an associate's degree or significant college credits.

Replication of the Portland program, including start-up funding for Montgomery College and other participating institutions, is supported through a multi-million dollar grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, along with the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Ford Foundation, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

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