Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/952089
Classes, programs grow to meet health care needs Education SCHOOL CHOICE THE RIGHT FIT Leslie Bandy knows about school choice in Northwest Arkansas through the experiences of her four children. Bandy has a sixth-grader in the Fayetteville School District. She has an eighth- and a 10th-grader at Haas Hall Academy, a public charter school. And her oldest child attend- ed The New School and St. Joseph Catholic School — both private schools — before graduating from Fayetteville High School. "We're blessed with great schools in Northwest Arkansas," Bandy said. "So I don't see one as better or worse, or one as bad or good. I see it as the best option and fitting the best needs of the individual student first, and then of your family." School-choice advocates argue one size does not fit all when it comes to education and urge fam- ilies to explore all of the school op- tions available to their children. As Benton and Washington coun- ties grow, so too do the educational options. Traditional public schools dominate the K-12 landscape, but the number of charter and private schools is on the rise. Home schooling also is growing increasingly popular. Patrick Wolf, distinguished pro- fessor and endowed chair in school choice at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, said once parents iden- tify schools that could be a good fit for their child, it's important to visit them and have their child shadow students, if possible. He said his research has shown parents who visit more than one school before making a choice tend to be much more satisfied with the school they select, because it's an informed choice. Schools increase offerings HEALTH CARE EDUCATION Higher education institutions are increasing class sizes and starting programs to meet the growing need for health care workers in Northwest Arkansas, school officials said. "We believe we are addressing the workforce shortage — not just in Arkansas — but specifically, the increased need that is projected for Northwest Arkansas," said Stephanie Gardner, interim chancellor at the Universi- ty of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Northwest Arkansas is among the fastest growing areas in the nation and is expected to reach 800,000 people by 2040, accord- ing to a 2016 report by the Northwest Arkansas Re- gional Planning Commis- sion. That growth means more health care profes- sionals and support staff members are needed, said Mervin Jebaraj, director at the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. The region also has an aging population, more access to insurance than previous years and more health care workers nearing retirement, Jebaraj said. The combination is driving the need for more workers, he said. The Northwest Arkansas metropolitan statistical ar- ea — which includes Benton, Washington and Madison Students find many college choices. 4T Pre-K options offer variety, choice. 5T Rivalries more than century old. 6T Progress 2018 HEALTHY COMPETITION Sunday, March 11, 2018 1T Educational options on rise in area NWA Democrat-Gazette/DAVID GOTTSCHALK Edward Cintron, a freshman at the Tyson School of Innovation, works on classwork in Chris Trivitt's advanced geometry class in Springdale. The school has more than 700 students in grades seven through 11. It will add a senior class this fall. NWA Democrat-Gazette/BEN GOFF •@NWABENGOFF Kindergartners through second-graders play "hot potato" during the biweekly "social day" meeting of the Social Homeschoolers Network of Northwest Arkan- sas at the First Baptist Church of Rogers' Olive Street Campus. DAVE PEROZEK NWA DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE TRAINING FOR JOBS SCARLET SIMS NWA DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE Fastest growing in Arkansas The fastest-growing occupa- tion through 2024 is projected to be occupational therapy assistants with a 54 percent growth. Physical therapist aides are expected to grow by 45 percent, and physical ther- apist assistants are expected to see 42 percent growth over the same time period. Source: Arkansas Department of Workforce Services NWA Democrat-Gazette/DAVID GOTTSCHALK Edward VanDuzer (center) is assisted by Heather Vaughn (left), physical therapist, and Sharina Cassity, physical therapy student, during a balance and mobility exercise at the Univer- sity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Northwest Outpatient Therapy Clinic in Fayetteville. The physical therapy program is new and the first 24 students are expected to graduate in May. Northwest Arkansas' school districts are developing career programs at a rapid rate in response to the needs of local employers. Mike Harvey, chief operating offi- cer at the Northwest Arkansas Coun- cil, said districts and post-secondary institutions are moving forward "pretty aggressively, pretty robustly" to prepare students for careers where there is high demand for skilled workers. The educational system is moving together in the right direction on career readiness, though it hasn't moved quite fast enough to keep up with the region's growth, Harvey said. Still, he added, "We've made some very big, positive steps in the past few years." Area districts compete with each oth- er on academic, athletic and extracur- ricular levels. Despite the competition, schools with specialized career programs — such as the diesel technology course at Gentry's Career and Technical Edu- cation Center — are allowing students from other districts into those programs. That's an important trend, Harvey said, because it means neighboring school districts don't necessarily have to invest huge sums of money in the same kinds of programs. Springdale High School laid the foundation for career preparation years ago with the introduction of its acade - my model, where students can choose to join one of seven career-focused programs. The Springdale School District is listening carefully to the business com- munity, said Joe Rollins, principal of the Don Tyson School of Innovation and the district's director of career and technical education. Change happens quickly, and hav- ing close relationships with community business leaders is vital because they see those changes coming before edu- cators do, Rollins said. "They've got to be right at the table with us," he said. School districts work to meet workforce needs NWA Democrat-Gazette/FLIP PUTTHOFF Evan Campbell (left), Heritage High School teacher, watches Ethan Sydow cut lumber during a carpentry class at the Rogers school. DAVE PEROZEK NWA DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE Career programs being developed with focus on local employers See OPTIONS, Page 2T See WORKFORCE, Page 3T See HEALTH, Page 4T