Civil Municipal Magazine - Dec 2023

287 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 12 EARLY COUNT Y SCHOOL SYSTEM (ECSS) approach to holistic student development. Some other notable names among these organizations include the Rotary Club of Blakely, the Early County Chamber of Commerce, and the Early County Sheriff’s Department. A Diversity of Pathways and Experience The ECSS is based in rural southwest Georgia, so as a result, roughly 40% of its student body lives below the poverty line. So, naturally, there is a district- wide focus on providing students with a wide range of opportunities to broaden their experiences. “We do our best to provide students with as many opportunities to go to Atlanta, the zoo, and different parks… we [want] students to have experiences that they may not get to experience otherwise,” Dr. Brown explains. The sentiment is that students should have access to as many opportunities available to them as possible, and even after they leave the school system, they should be in a position where they can continue to create those experiences for themselves. So, naturally, career readiness is at the forefront of the ECSS curriculum, with a robust Career Technical and Agriculture Education (CTAE) program offering over a dozen pathways. Work-based learning programs, dual enrollment opportunities, and partnerships with external organizations enrich the educational experience, preparing students for the evolving workforce. “We have a work-based learning program where students are able to work for pay or so volunteer for a shadowing program. They are paired with the business of their choice in the community; students are able to be enrolled in a dual enrollment program through the University of Georgia where they receive college and high school credit at the same time,” Dr. Brown explains. In this regard, early intervention is once again a crucial factor, as the school system’s CTAE programs are available in different forms for students in High School, Middle School, and Elementary School.